VENEREAL CLINICS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15657, 1 August 1916, Page 2

VENEREAL CLINICS.

FEDERAL COMMITTEE PLEASED. Two members —Mr J. Mathews, M.H.R,, chairman, and Dr. Cumpston of the Commonwealth Committee appointed to enquire into the causes of invalidity and mortality in-Australia, were in Sydney last week. Both are enquiring into tho work of the venereal clinics in this State, and both expressed pleasure at the thoroughness and effectiveness of the treatment given (says the "Daily Telegraph"). They had visited the night clinic at tho Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and were strongly impressed with the value of the work done there. It was to bo hoped, they remarked, that similar clinics would be established by all the principal hospitals in the Commonwealth. . "It is a very fine illustration of tne application of scientific knowledge to tlie protection of public health," remarked Dr. Cumpston in a reference to the work of the Royal Prince Alfred clinic. . , "It is obvious frpm one evening s observation of tho work that not only comparatively large numbers of 'men are being so treated as to have the disease arrested in the early stages, but it is also apparent that the methods adopted have established such a dcfrce of confidence among" the patients that the educational value of the work to the public must really be great. If such institutions were established on a considerable scale in the Commonwealth within a few years there should be an appreciable effect not only on the male section of the community, but also on the innocent female section, and some reduction in infantile mortality and in the number of children congenitally defective could reasonably be looked for." "They are doing good work at Princ™ Alfred's," was the opinion of Mr- Mathews. "But to make tho clinic thoroughly effective the disease must be made compulsorily notifiable. I say, too, that the patients onght to sat free treatment, and Uovcrnment ought to make sucli financial" arrangements as may be necessary to do that. The Commonwealth Government lias asreed to subsidise the efforts of the States'to the extent of £15 000 a vear. of which amount the sharp. of New South Wales would be £4500, the condition laid down being that compulsory notification must be brought into force. I would even go farther and sav that I am sure the Commonwealth would increase that amount if Jt were found necessary. We think that Mr Black is mistaken in his belief that if the disease were mad" notifiable it would drive patients away from the clinics to quack doctors and chemists. If there was an oblieation to nptifv these diseases there would be no wore publicity than under thn nresent system. "There was no urgent necessity, no concluded, "for immediate action No one could deny that thousands of lives were lost every year in Australia thro" ,o, h svphilis. without taking into consideration the immense amount of sickness and inefficiency and misery which it also caused.