V.D. CONMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1922, Page 3

V.D. CONMMISSION.

SOME STARTLING EVIDENCE. EXPERUNCE OF DOCTORS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. . Christchurch, August 29. The Venereal Diseases Committee of the Board of Health sat here to-day. Dr. I’. Clennell Fenwick, assistant director of medical services for rhe South Island, who took a prominent part in promoting rhe inquiry into venereal dissease, and who has made a study as to its prevalence, said that while in practice in the North Island he noted with great concern how young the average patient was. Ages were from 17 to 20, with two very early cases. He continued: I was greatly concerned about the youthfulness of these cases. Seeing the opinion expressed was that there were a certain number of young girls Mvhose morals were lax and who were spreading the disease through ignorance of their own illness, also that the police frankly expressed the opinion that the fault was that professional women were

‘•'chased out of town” as soon as discovered. and amateur prostitution was the result. From 1908 to 1914, I wa.-. practising in Christchurch. My practice again became rather full of these cases. I only kept a record by numbers, as I found that the patients objected to my taking notes of their illness. I think I can honestly estimate the number of V.D. cases seen by me each year at 76. This is the lowest estimate I could make, but I must admit that many of these patients came to me from considerable distances, so the number does not mean that the cases occurred in Christchurch only. Dr. Pearson has informed me he cannot say that he has noticed any increase in the number of syphlitic. eases since the return of our men from service. SUGGESTED REGULATIONS. Reviewing the . suggestions for combating the disease, Dr. Fenwick said he Lad always been a strong advocate for compulsory notification. He was aware, however, there was strong prejudice against any compulsion, and in order to meet public .opinion he suggested conditional notification, namely, that each person affected should be treated and no notification be made as long as the person continued his treatment. Power should be given to deal with persons declining to continue treatment. He suggested that persons who attended for the first attack should be treated on separate days from others who had contracted the diseases by prostitution. Answering Lady Luke, Dr. Fenwick said it would be a great help if women doctors attended at the hospitals. Sir Donald McGavin: Do you think lack of parental control in New Zealand is one of the greatest obstacles in dealing with this question? Witness: I am perfectly sure of it. In further evidence, Dr. Fenwick stated that the average man would not listen to advice, but it would save the country if these men had an opportunity of saving themselves. He had no experience in the relative prevalence of the disease in wet and dry districts. The chairnjan: It has been suggested that licensed houses might be established. and understand you oppose ‘his. Dr. Fenwick: Yes, I have studied this question in Paris and Japan. It is against all moral ideas of the average clean man.

The chairman: Would it‘not give a false sense of security?—l am sure it does. Dr. Fox, superintendent of the Christchurch Hospital, said the greatest obstacle to the eradication of the disease was the lack of power to en'orce treatment. Men attended regularly for treatment, but the reverse was the case with women. Until compulsion was applied, V.D. could not be eradicated. SAILORS ON SHIPS. Dr. C. H. Upham, of Lyttelton, said he saw very few cases of venereal diseases himself. This he attributed to the habit of sailors consulting chemists. Sailors suffering from the disease should be kept aboard 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 Paparua, said admissions during 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 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 here as in Europe. He quoted two instances to show that venereal infection of some women was responsible for trouble at confinements, nud for many operations. He considered V.D. was the cause of 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 years. There had not been any cases born showing inherited syphilis, and no cases o f gonorrhoeal ophthalmia. Dr. Sandston, president of the men’s branch of the Social Hygiene Society, expressed himself in favor of compulsory notification and against prophylactics. Major Baines, of the Salvation Army Home, and Dr. Lindsay also gave evidence.