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THE MEDICAL CONGRESS.

REPORT ON SYPHILIS. STEPS FOR ERADICATION. The most important report to come before the Medical Congress was presented tins afternoon. It dealt witn syphilis, one of the vilest contagious idiseuses known to medical science. 1 At tne lust congress a .Sow Zealand committee was set up to investigate and tabulate and report on facts in regard to this disease. The report is an exceedingly comprehensive one, and lias been published in pamphlet lorm. The committee decided to limit us investigations to the conditions of aixairs in New Zealand and tne South <bea islands.

in making its investigations the committee received information from 30i medical practitioners in the Dominion, and from such institutions as mental hospitals, gaols, general hospitals, did men's homes, and Salvation Army homes. It is pointed out that of the cases reported more than', half come from Auckland and Wellington, which cities have the most frequent communications from outside countries. The returns report 1914 primary and seceudary cases that were seen by private practitioners during the last two years. To these must be added cases met with in institutions.

The total cases reported are as follows : Auckland, 615 city, 138 country; Wellington, 412 and 23; Christchurch, 252 and 21; Dunedin 44 and 14. Therefore the cities report 1323 cases and the country 265. Wellington and Auckland cities between them contribute 1196 cases. To these must be added the hospital returns. General hospitals reported 192 cases, and mental hospitals 18. The total fresh infections during the last two years in New Zealand therefore amount to 1914. Of the various institutions winch have sent in returns, 13 general hospitals report 192 cases. “Here it is to be noted,” continues the report, “that most of them by rheir regulations refuse admission and treatment to primary venereal cases. Even at this stage one must remark on the extraordinary lack of foresight in this regulation. This certainly is n most unfortunate position, and the committee considers that hospitals ought to cake in and treat any person suffering: from this disease, who is a danger to the community.”

The report goes on to say that ij all the medical men in the 'Dominion had replied to the circular sent out tit amount of‘ the disease reported who !d piiobably have been; at' least double. The replies as to the frequency of infection,as compared with former years arte indefinite, but, if (anything, theievidence points to it btfingl less frequent. The sdinel applies to the inquiry as to the evidence being in favor of its being milder.

In regard to inquiries as to the sources of infection, the committee points out that the replies are practically unanimous that the infection is sea' borne. Sydney is specially mentioned; then the South Sea , Islands, with a prppprtiou of cases from other oversea'routds. flh-.cu.w .sr-ojcaessjo*-1 . D QUESTION' OF PREVENTION. The report then proceeds to deal at length Dvith, the South Sea Islands, and more particularly with those islands with which New Zealand is in direct communication. With regard to the question of prevention, the committee suggests that it is eminently desirable that a Royal commission should he set up in New Zealand and Australia, and to act, if possible, in unison with the Royal Commission at present sitting in England. In dealing further with the question of prevention, the report says; “The committee takes it for granted that the profession and public generally deem the police regulation of prostitution inadequate, inadvisable, and useless. Women known as prostitutes are repressed by the police, and are becoming rare, but clandestine immorality, by far the greater course of infection, holds the usual sway, and seems to increase in amount the nearer we get to the Equator. Reference may he made in passing to the prevailing impression that as this is a loathsome disease, it is found only amongst abandoned persons. As of old, however, the medical profession knows that immorality, clothed with a semblance of respectability, is the greater source of infection.”

The committee, after dealing at length with the possible remedies, summarises its recommendations, as follows:—(1) That it be declared a notifiable disease, that notification be encouraged and be discretionary but not compulsory, and that the Chief Medical Officer of Health be the only person to whom notification is made; (2) that provision be made through the hospital boards to establish laboratories in the centres, where they are not already existent for the diagnosis of the disease; (3) that free treatment in public hospitals and dispensaries be provided; (4) that steps lie taken to educate the mercantile marine as to the dangers of the disease, and that provision bo made for preventive treatment on the intercolonial service; (o) that legislation he enacted against the treatment of the disea e »v unqualified persons. The report was very fnlK discussed ami was adopted. RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNMENTS. When the New Zealand,Committee’s report had been adopted, a memorandum was brought forward and discussed at length, after which it was decided to address the following statement and recommendations to the various Governments of Australasia : Venereal diseases are proved to he responsible for a vast amount of damage to mankind The damage is expressed by loss of life (frequently at its prime), insanity, sterility, deslruc-

tiou of family life, inefficiency and economic waste. Ine monetary loss to the nation is enormous. The exact distribution of these diseases is unknown,

but it is estimated by excellent authority that i-2bth of tiie population of Berlin, Paris and iNew York are annually infected. It is fairly certain that 12 to lo per cent, of the population of London, Paris and Berlin are syphilitic, and in addition, a much larger number are gouorrrhoeie. inore is good reason for thinking that Australasian cities are affected to much the same extent. There are no other diseases which cause so much loss to the community. By the adoption of suitable measures, | these diseases can be greatly reduced in frequency, and may be wholly suppressed. Ttie steps which should be taken are (1) the provision of education (after consultation with educational experts) as to the lines to bo followed by adults and adolescents in the nature, causes, consequences and method of prevention of venereal diseases ; (2) provision of free, scientific facilities for effecting the early and accurate diagnosis of venereal diseases, and for testing the results of treatment ; (3) the provision of free treat- I meat, both in and out-door at times convenient to the patients, for all those who are unable to make their own arrangements; (4) the passage of legislation providing for (a) the detention of any prisoner suffering from venereal disease until by treatment ho or she is rendered innocuous. The Prisoners’ Detention Act of New South Wales already makes, such provision; (b) the severe punishment of anyone who wilfully or negligently communicates venereal diseases to other people; ■(c) the severe punishment of anyone not being a qualified medical practitioner who undertakes to treat sufferers from venereal diseases. This provision is Very necessary because of the danger to innocent persons consequent on the unsuitable treatment of the infected.

The monetary cost of effecting the eradication of venereal diseases would not be very great. In fact, the expenditure would he very small by comparison with the expenditure Sesnlting from the present wholesale infection of the populace. There is no form of public expenditure which might so truly be described as national and reproductive. If the steps indicated are taken with wisdom, the results will be a diminution of mortality, insanity, and the expenditure on hospitals and asylums, and increased human efficiency, and better, and healthier enjoyment of life. The recommendations quoted embody principles. Their mode of application .would properly be a subject of discussion between the .respective Governments and the branches of the British Medical Association. . . ~» -T>-" " > ’ > 1 ! * l

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/STEP19140213.2.4

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 37, 13 February 1914, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,300

THE MEDICAL CONGRESS. Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 37, 13 February 1914, Page 2

THE MEDICAL CONGRESS. Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 37, 13 February 1914, Page 2

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