HIGH MORAL IDEAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 7

HIGH MORAL IDEAL

BEST COUNTER TO VEILED DISEASE MENACE. A report was issued recontly of the Inter-Uopartmcntal Committee which considered the question of what concerted measures should be taken to mitigate the dangers of tropical and other diseases being disseminated among the civil population from the process of. demobilisation. The present memorandum is concerned _ mainly with the advisability or otherwise of officially making available for the civil community certain methods of prophylaxis against venereal diseases which have been publicly commended as having been successful among conibatants during the war. The committee, while agreeing as uo the efficaciousness of certain drags preventing 'venernl disease when properly and skilfully applied, have come to the conclusion that the issue of prophylactics tends to give rise to a false sense of security, and thus to encourage the taking of risks which would not be otherwise incurred, and the neglect of facilities for «irly treatment when available. Their use may bo definitely harmful, since they delay diagnosis and the application of prompt treatment. The excessive consumption of alcoholic liquors not only diminishes the sense of responsibility, but also tends to prevent the propei use of prophylactics, and to delay the individual's application for skilled treatment. The committee are not satisfied .that thero lias been sufficient evidence put before them of the beneficial results gained by übo distribution of prophylactics in various forc«s to prove the value~ofthe system, or to justify them in recommending ihj official encouragement among the civil population. Unquestionably there- have been many individual cases which appear to afford positive evidence in favour of a system of distribution of such prophylactics before exposure to infection; but the volume of such evidence is too small and too exceptional, and the instances of. its failure are too numerous, to allow of any other conclusion than that, in view of the considerations mentioned and of the administrative and social difficulties involved, Hi* official application of the system to the civil community is neither desirable nor practicable Tho representatives of tbo different departments who- assisted the committee at various times in their deliberations on this subject ask that tihero should be recorded their unanimous viewthat the true safeguard .against thaso diseases is individual continence and a Ligh standard of moral life. This implies ,i sound public opinion and a healthy national tone. The committee, having examined the evidence from the scientific and the medical point of view, record it as their opinion that the irreplaceable effect of the moral factor lias be,en too frequently neglected or forgotten. '