VENEREAL DISEASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1922, Page 5

VENEREAL DISEASE.

COMMISSION AT CHRISTCHURCH. EVIDENCE OF DOCTORS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The venereal disease committee sat here to-day. Dr. Fox, superintendent of the Christchurch Hospital, said the greatest obstacle to the eradication of the disease was lack of power to enforce treatment. Men attended regularly for treatment, but the reverse was the case with women. Until compulsion was applied V.D. could not be eradicated.

Dr. C. H. Upham, of Lyttelton, said he saw very few cases of venereal disease himself. This he attributed to the habit of sailors consulting chemists. Sailors suffering from the disease should be kept on board ship and only allowed ashore under escort. Very few cases were brought to him under the provisions of the international Act.

Dr. Nedwill, gaol surgeon at Paparoa, said the admissions in the last two years had been 751. and at the female prison at Addington 126. The number of venereal cases treated were six males and four females. One female had been detained for a month under the Prisoners’ Detention Act.

Dr. Currie deposed that the ignorance of young people in matters of sex was deplorable. Compulsory notice, in his opinion, would have the effect of drawing V.D. underground. He advocated publicity and education.

Dr. John Guthrie said that while there was no professional class of prostitutes in the Dominion, there were as many indiscriminate practices carried on I here as in Europe. He quoted two instances to show that venereal infection by women was responsible for trouble at confinements and for many operations. He considered V.D. was the cause of the reduced birth rate, in that it led to sterility. It was also a great cause of still births. Dr. Irving, in charge of St. Helen’s Hospital, said there had only been five cases of V.D. among patients in eleven vears. There had not been any cases born showing inherited syphiHis v and no cases of gonorrhoeal ophthalmia. Dr. Sandston, president of the men’s branch of the Social Hygiene Society, expressed himself in favour of compulsory notification and against prophylactics. Major Baines, Salvation Army "home, and Dr. Lindsay also gave evidence. The commission leaves for Dunedin to-morrow.