CONVENTION FRAGMENTS

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 4, 1 May 1947, Page 3

CONVENTION FRAGMENTS

In our last issue, which was devoted almost entirely to Dominion Convention news and topics, some untidy ends were left for which we make our apologies, hoping that any apparent discourtesies will be understood to be the result of hurried endeavour to include a> much as jK»>sible of Convention doings. Among these was the omission in the list of Remits, of the fate of Nos 1, 6, I*7, 20 and 21. We hasten to repair the omission. No. 1 Withdrawn; No. 0 Carried; 10 and 20, Carried; 21, Withdrawn. The accidental placing of the usual heading for the President’s monthly message over her Convention Presidential Address is a serious disadvantage. Also we regret the lack of the sjiecial announcement on the cover page that this was the “Convention Number.” Where copies are being used for distribution, we would venture to suggest that the Union Scribe or artist might make these omissions good, so that the value of the issue may not be unduly diminished.

A further error occured in regard to the account of the Saturday’s outing, entitled “Peeps at the Queen City.” This was from the pen of our esteemed friend and member, Miss Edmed, to whom we make our grateful acknowledgements, wh ; le apologising for omitting her name as writer of the account.

“SHOCK” TREATMENT During Convention one of the delegates was asked to bring what information she could gain about “Shock Treatment," this being the subject of a Remit from her district. It was fully admitted iliat the subject was well beyond our sphere of knowledge, and that we could - not hope to make any authoritative statements alwnit it. The information gleaned was slight but was felt to be of very great interest to everyone. Here follows an outline of what we were told, and a little more has been added through the post since Convention.

Two cases, known personally, were treated. Of these, one lady, aged 39, recovered fully aft< * ten treatments. "Phe other, a lady of 52, died after die first treatment.

In the case of a married woman, her lh'sbatid has to sign a statement that he w il lay no claim in the event of his wife’s death, or her total loss of reason as the result of treatment. Only a certain class of mental illness can be treated in this way.

A psychiatrist stated that the treatment was only in its infancy, but would ip time lie used for all nerve complaints, and for revitalising all mentally tired people.

Seven attendants are necessary for each patient during the administering of treatment, and fcetweei treatments a close watch of the patient must be kept.

Recent advice received adds to the above that the treatment has been simplified. One well-known doctor administers it in a very mild form at his own

private hospital, it is still held to be suitable only for one class of patient. It is known that different types of apparatus arc employed in different mental hospitals. The equipment is said to be cxtrcmel} cx|»cnsive and the necessity tor a special stall for its use adds to its cost. CONVENTION “SERVICE OF MEMORIES” The following corrected list of names of members of the Southland District who passed beyond the veil during 1946. has been sent to us, and we wish to add them to the list published as being the names of those “remembered’’ in the "Service ot Memories” regretting that it was inqiossiblc to include them in last month’s issue. Bluff: Mrs. R. N. Porter. Invercargill Xorth: Mrs. Clara Brown, Mrs. Rutland. Inzer car nil .South: Miss McCallum, Mrs. Mclntyte. Invercargill Central: Mrs. YY. A. Ott, Mrs. Dobic, Mrs. Pennington, Mrs. Fraser, Miss McEwan, Miss McDowell. H inton: Mrs. 17.I 7 . A. McWilliatn.