SOCIAL DISEASES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 October 1943, Page 3

SOCIAL DISEASES

INCREASE IN NEW ZEALAND PREVENTIVE MEASURES URGED. USE OF WASSERMAN TEST. Dr. Hubert Smith, Medical Officer of Health for Wellington, gave a most interesting address on social diseases last evening in Knox Hall. Among those present were members of a large number of Wairarapa organisations, including the Farmers’ Union Women’s Division, church guilds. Red Cross Society, League of Nations Union, the League of Mothers, Townswomen’s Guild, the W.C.T.U., and members of the nursing, teaching and other professions. Dr. John Rich introduced the speaker and stressed the fact that the great increase in social diseases was but one symptom of a worldwide wave of immorality consequent upon the war, and was giving grave concern in their own community. Dr. Smith described the two main types of venereal disease —gonorrhoea and syphillis. Both could be eradicated if the community co-operated in securing early and thorough treatment. Gonorrhoea until a few years ago was most difficult to treat, but with the advent of new and powerful drugs could now be cured in a few weeks if taken early. Untreated or badly treated it could lead to sterility, widespread female disorders, and that terrible tragedy—blindness of the newborn. Since the war, the disease in Wellington had probably increased’ about 500 per cent. Syphilis was a disease which brought tragedy to millions, said Dr. Smith. In its train came habitual abortions, heart diseases, aneurism and insanity, and it left its trail of ruin for generations. Its treatment was long and tedious, from one to two years, often longer. Kissing was responsible in about 5 per cent, of cases. Dr. Smith discussed the manner in which the disease was being tackled by education, legal penalties, and V.D. clinics. Public opinion was not yet educated to accept Compulsory notificaation. Existing laboratory facilities could not cope with an examination of every member of the community, but an examination of all pregnant women and of couples about to marry would lead to the detection of unsuspected cases and save many unborn from death or a life of misery and insanity. Several questions were answered by Dr. Smith in an interesting discussion. The following motion was proposed by Mr. G. L. Scrivener, seconded by Mrs. Way, and carried: — “This meeting of 120 citizens of Masterton urges the Government in the interests of the whole community. and especially of the women and children, to take urgent steps to arrange for the Wasserman Test for all pregnant women and for all persons -about to marry.”

Dr. Hubert Smith, Medical Officer of Health for Wellington, gave a most interesting address on social diseases last evening in Knox Hall. Among those present were members of a large number of Wairarapa organisations, including the Farmers’ Union Women’s Division, church guilds. Red Cross Society, League of Nations Union, the League of Mothers, Townswomen’s Guild, the W.C.T.U., and members of the nursing, teaching and other professions.

Dr. John Rich introduced the speaker and stressed the fact that the great increase in social diseases was but one symptom of a worldwide wave of immorality consequent upon the war, and was giving grave concern in their own community. Dr. Smith described the two main types of venereal disease —gonorrhoea and syphillis. Both could be eradicated if the community co-operated in securing early and thorough treatment. Gonorrhoea until a few years ago was most difficult to treat, but with the advent of new and powerful drugs could now be cured in a few weeks if taken early. Untreated or badly treated it could lead to sterility, widespread female disorders, and that terrible tragedy—blindness of the newborn. Since the war, the disease in Wellington had probably increased’ about 500 per cent.

Syphilis was a disease which brought tragedy to millions, said Dr. Smith. In its train came habitual abortions, heart diseases, aneurism and insanity, and it left its trail of ruin for generations. Its treatment was long and tedious, from one to two years, often longer. Kissing was responsible in about 5 per cent, of cases.