Venereal Diseases

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 193, 13 February 1914, Page 5

Venereal Diseases

AN IMPORTANT REPORT. OI'TSPOKKX ATTACK OXi THE EVIL alarming figures. PREVENTIVE METHODS SUGGESTED Jly Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The most important report to come before, the Medical Congress was presented this afternoon. It dealt with syphilis, one of the, vilest contagious diseases known to medical science. At the last congress a New 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 has been published in pamphlet fonn. The committee decided to' limit its investigations to the conditions of affairs in New Zealand and the Bouth Sea Islands.

In making its investigations the committee received information from 301 medical practitioners in the Dominion, and from such institutions as menial hospitals, gaols, general hospitals, old men's homes, and Salvation Army hemes.

It is pointed out that of the cases reported more than half come from Auckland and Wellington, which cities have the most frequent communications irom outside countries. The returns report 1941 primary and secondary eases that were seen by private practitioners during Ihe last two years. To these must be added cases met with 'n institutions.

The total cases reported are as follows: Auckland, 015 city, 138 country; .Wellington, 412 and 23; Christchurch, 2f>2 and 24; Dunedin 44 and 14. Therefore the cities report 1323 cases and the country 2i>s. Wellington and Auckland cities between them contribute 1190 cases. To these must be added the hospital returns. (ieneral hospitals reported 192 cases, and mental hospitals 18. The total fresh infections during the last two years in New Zealand therefore amount to 1941. Of the various institutions which have sent in returns, 13 general hospitals report 192 cases.

j "Here it is to be noted," continues | the report, ''that most of them by their regulations refuse 'admission and'treatment to primary venereal eases. Even at this stage one must remark on the extraordinary lack of foresight in this regulation. This certainly is a most unfortunate position, and' the committee considers that hospitals ought to take in and treat any person suffering from this disease, who is a danger to the community." The report goes on to say that if all the medical men in the Dominion hud replied to the circular sent out the amount of the disease reported would probably have been at least double. The replies as to the frequency of infection as compared with former years is indefinite, but, if anything, t)io evidence points to it being less frequent. The same applies to the inquiry as to severity, the evidence again being in .fitvov of its being mdder. In regard to inquiries as to the' sources of infection, the committee points out that the replius are practically unanimous that the infection is sea borne. Sydney is specially mentioned; then the South Sea Islands, with a proportion of cases from other oversea routes. QUESTION OF PREVENTION".

The report then proceeds to deal at length ith the .South Sea Islands, and more particularly witk those islands with which Xew Zealand is in direct <'ommunication.

With regard tJo'the quotation of prevention, the committee suggests that it is eminently desirable that a Royal Commission should be 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 arc repressed by the police, and are becoming rare, but elandestmo immorality, by far the greater source of infection, holds the usual sway, and Beems to increase in amount the nearer we get to the Equator. Reference may V wade m passing to the prevailing impression that as this is it loathsome disease, it is found only amongst abandoned persons. As of old, however, the medical profession knows that immorality, clothed with a Bemblance 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 diseast' 1 , that notification be encouraged and be discretionary but not compulsory, and that the Chief Medical Officer of Health be the only person to whom the notification is made; (2) that provisien be made through the Hospital Boards to establish laboratories in the four centres, where they are not already existent for the diagnosis of the disease; (3) that free treatment in the public hospitals and dispensaries be provided: (4) that steps be taken to educate the mercantile marine us to the dangers of the disease, and that provision be made for preventive treatment on the intercolonial service; (5) that legislation be enacted against the treatment of the disease by unqualified jersoHs. The report was very fully discussed and was' adopted.

11ECOMMENDATIONS TO TIHC GOVERNMENTS.. When the New Zealand Committee's report had been adopted, a meinorinilum 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 be responsible for a vast amount of damage to mankind. Tiia damage is express -d by lo.vs of life (frequently at its prime), insanity, sterility, destruction of family life, inefficiency and economic waste. The monetary loss to the nation is | enernious. The exact distribution of these diseases is unknown, but it is

estimated by excellent authority that l-25th of the population of Berlin. ! Paris ami Xew York are annually infected. Tt is fairly certain that 12 to 15 per cent, of the population of London. Paris ind Berlin are syphilitic, anil in addition, a much larger number are gonorrhoeae. There is good »eason for thinking that Australasian cities are affected to much the smile extent. There are no other diseases which cause so much loss., to the community. By t'le adoption of mi (able, measures, these diseases can ''>« greatly reduced in frequency, aivl may he wholly supprcs-

sed. Th« steps which shoutyl jt arc (1) the provision, of W (after consultation with fedU experts) as to the lines to b® 1$ by adults a Jiff udolescents in ure, causes, consequences anil of prevention of venereal diMM, , provision of free, scientific f&ciliw effecting the early and accurat nosis of venereal diseases, testing the results of treats the provision of free treatment, and out-door at times coßvenli the patients, for all those who able to make their own arran" (•J) the passage of legislation! for (a) the detention of any suffering from venereal dlMMfij by treatment he or she is render! nocuous. The Prisoners' Dotentlr | tif New South Wales already' ' KiK'li provision; (b) the severe} ment of anyone who wilfully or j penily communicates vei\|real dft to other people; (c) the severer meiit of anyone not being a r medical practitioner who under treat sufferers from venereal This provision is very necessary eauie of the danger t6 innocent sons consequent on the unsuio treatment of the infected. The monetary cost of elfcctv eradication of venereal diseases not be very preat. In fact, the , , diture would be very small by caWJ son with the expenditure resulting ' the present wholesale infection of tnj ; populace. There is no form of publW f expenditure which might so trill/ W i described as national and reproductive If the steps indicated are taken wits , jvisdom, thi' results will be :y unnipUton of mortality, insanity, ami the expenditure on hospitals and asylums, anu increased human efficiency, and oettor and healthier enjoyment of lifeThe recommendations quoted embody principles. Their mode of application—would properly be a subject of discusBioi! between the respective flovern- ; nrents and the branches of the BritUh i Medical A«soei*tion. 4