VENEREAL DISEASES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16485, 26 February 1914, Page 5

VENEREAL DISEASES.

OUT-PATIENTS' DEPARTMENT PROPOSED.

At yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board 'Dr Fenwick moved that an out-patients' department for the treatment of syphilis and venereal diseases' should bo established in connection with the Hospital, tie ?.aiol that it war, no u:e the community hiding its head in the sand like the ostrich and < declaring mock modestly that euch diseases did not exist. They did exist, and in this city they were on the increase. If the Board would establish a department he would find medical men who would do the work free of cost to the Board. It wa=> work which urgently required doing iin the interests of the whole comI munity. In the earlier stages of the diseuse a good cure could be made. It was a question of providing spscial hours which such cases could get advice and treatment in the out-patient department. | Mr J. D. Hall said that the question was how the people most concerned were to hear of the new department. | Why should the Board not publish a big placard dealing with this disease just as they had already dealt with pneumonia ? Mr Cooper asked if Dr Fenwick proposed that it should be compulsory to bring such diseases for treatment. Dr Fenwick.said that soma'years ago a Bill was drafted on those lines, but Mr Seddon throw it out. Tho matter was referred to the Hospital Committee. Mrs Wilson said that Dr Fenwick deserved tho thanks of ajl the women's organisations in the city for his courageous handling of this matter.