"THE DEADLY ENEMY."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 278, 25 April 1914, Page 6

"THE DEADLY ENEMY."

Ai'I'AIJjJXG LOSS TO THE STATE.

STRAIGHT TALK UN VKM'iiKAL DISEASKS.

KDUCATIOX TUB O,NIA r TREAT ME.NT.

By 'iViegrapit—i'lr-s A-i.iviitii>»n. Wellington, Thursday. J A re]iort on venereal diseases was I aided at t.liis afternoon's meeting of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard by Dr. Hardwiek-Sniith, Supt. of the Wellington Hospital. In it; lift states that the term "venereal gonorrhoea" included syphilis and gonorrhoea, and tin ir t'ompiiraliuiis. lie wished to till the Board in plain language of some of the ravages attendant in the .train of venereal diseases. 1 hev would then recognise -"the importance of grappling with this deadlv enorny. It was true they were only commencing to recognise the, immense harm this nation-destroying disease had wrought. Tho Minister of Health in New York estimated that 200,flf>0 cases developed in that city every yenr. Could members grasp that figure? it was equivalent to one-fifth of the whole population of New Zealand. Remember, New York was not the only city where venereal disease was contracted. Of this 200.000 cases 30,000 were due to syphilis, and the rest to gonorrhoea. After quoting experiences of over-sea cities, with regard to the prevalence of the disease, he said: "In Wellington, incomplete statistics showed that (luring the last two years 500 cases of primary syphilis were treated, but that number was small compared to the total who contracted tho disease. These figures were sufficient to prove the prevalence of veneroal disease."

Proceeding, the Superintendent doscribed some of the effects'on the human body, which, he remarked, ".'.hows clearly the appalling loss to the State by this disease. We talk glibly about filling the cradles, but what is the use of filling the cradles only to empty them again? Teach so that the cradles will be filled by healthy children. Better one cradle occupied by a healthy child than six cradles filled by diseased and dying 1 children. Dr. Browning states that 14 per cent, of the children who come to the out-patients' department cf the hospitalare there through congenital syphilis, so we can safely say that 14 per cent, of all unhealthy children are unhealthy because their parents have . contracted syphilis before their birth. Dr. Kale Eraser and Dr. Watson examined cases of mental deficiency and epilepsy ; n young people, and syphilis infection was shown to be associated with 57 per cent, of these cases. Then again, over 50 per cent, of children who super from nervous troubles are caused by this dread disease. .Syphilis affects other organs of the body, besides the nervous system. I have not space in mv report to deal with the awful attacks of this disease on the bones, on the blood vessels, or the heart; in fact, on all organs of .the body, but 1 may state that any individual who has •had sypu~.a has not by any means a good chance of attaining to'a healthy • old age, and lie often taints wife and children. "It is necessary to speak strongly on this subject, however much one shrinks from it. I will only sav a few words about the other venereal disease, gonorrhea. The young adult often jokes about this disease, and considers that if. is only a minor ailment with no lasting results, and whicli it is necessary to have if one is to boast that he is a man I of the world. Let me say that tnis' disease is the most common' ailment of j all. It is almost as awful in its effects , as syphilis. The only fai;t whicli renders I it a degree less terribly is thai it cannot bo directly transmitted to the second j generation, it is one of the chief causes ! of sterility in women. "I have staged enough to give th"j Board some idea of the prevalence and results of these diseases. I do not intend to discuss its actual trcttinent. b - cause this branch is p.irt of the work of the medical adviser, hut I want to impress on the patient the importance of obtaining advice at the earliest opportunity in order to deal with the prevention of venereal disease and the treatment may be summed in one word, 'education.' B\l proper educaion of the young of both sexes as they emerge from boyhood and girlhood into young adult life, many of the diseases at present prevalent' would soon be relics of tlie past. Instead of spending millions in treating the actual disease, only thousands would be needed for education. Up to the present we liave been working on wrong lines. We have shirked our | responsibilities, and left our young to | wander in the mire; and only when they j have become hopelessly bogged have wc I grudgingly given to tliem' tlie helping hand. This is a matter in whicli ail I right-thinking men find women must '< feel their responsibility. Xot only the ( individual, but the. country and the State finally must come forward awl aid. • We must not ostracise those who contracted these diseases. The blame i should rightly fall on our shoulders, in that we have not prevented it. i''irst, let all our young know of these diseas-e. I and the effects on both themselves and on mankind at large. Then, if syphilis is contracted by an individual, it will be time to take of laws to segregate and penalise the offending one."