VENEREAL DISEASES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 41, 9 July 1914, Page 4

VENEREAL DISEASES.

' THEIR SPREAD AND PKilitf ENT]ION T . DISCUSSED BY HOSPITAL BOARD. The question which is at present occupying the attention of all the principal hospitals and the lending medical men of the Dominion, that of dealing effectively with, venereal diseases on edut.itional. lines, was briefly discussed by the. New' Plj mouth Hospital Board yesterday. The Wellington Hospital Board'i. secretary forwarded resolutions in connection with more effective methods to check venereal diseases. These recommendations were brought by a deputation from the Board before the Minister for Public Health, who suggested th.it the views of other Boards be obtained, and promise! the co-operation of the Department. The recommendations were: (1) That facilities be provided at the hospitals and dispensaries for the treatment of persons suffering from venereal diseases; (2) that no charge be made to the medical practitioners in the Wellington hospital district for tests made in the Bacteriological Department in connection with examinations! made in regard to venereal diseases; (3) Oh&t the local branch of the British Medical Association be asked to co-operate with the Board for the purpose of giving lectures in connection with venereal diseases; (4) that all institutions, such as schools, universities, young men's and women's associations, etc., have a course of health lectures delivered by members of the medical profession and that lectures be given by th« medical officer attafched to the defence forces to the forces when in camp; (5) that the Minister in charge of the defence forces give instructions to discourage girls from visiting camps; (6) that the shipping companies be approached with a view to making grants to their medical officers for the purpose of enaiWinj: them to give lectures on venerea,! diseases to the officers, passengers and Cows on ships; (7) that public bodies, such as Hospital Boards, make grants to, members of the medical profession fo r lectures {to be duly advertised) to young men and women; (8) that the Education Department be approached with a view to making the subject of sex physiology a compulsory subject on the syllabus for teachers' examinations and that a course of lectures be given tc teachers by medical l practitioners (where possible by women doctors to women teachers). -rr Dr ' y a,intina > 'lnspectw-Genor&li of Hospitals, forwarded the recommenda'tions of the Australian Medical Congress on the siime subject, and felt sure that the Board would! co-operate in the matter. As regarded the free treatment of sufferers from venereal diseases. Tecommcrdod 1 by the committer he ■ suggested that such treatment should particularly apply to the outpatient department of the 'hospitals but that where possible, a fee, according to the patient's means, be charged to in-patients. T]he 'Department w«« taking the necessary steps to give cffeH. to the other recommendations of the special committee. The chairman remarked that there was throughout- the Dominion a movement towards educating the puMic on' it ' matters, and New 'Plymouth ' -?.t wan fortunate in possessing a man I i- , whose lectures on the' health * <l ° much B' ood to public Mr. Mae,Reynolds moved that conl.-s of the report just rea<i ibe supplied to members of the Board, and that the matter bo deferred in the meantim.until next meeting. Mr. .T. Brown remarked that he hac' I read the discussion reported in tlipress, and was satisfied it wns a mar .- ment in the right direction. Mr. Mac Reynolds'' motion was carried.