SOCIAL HYGIENE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VII, Issue 292, 4 October 1917, Page 3

SOCIAL HYGIENE.

VERY DRASTIC BILI

COMPULSORY DETENTION

HEAVY PENALTIES PROVIDED

(Parliamentary Correspondent. Wellington, Oct. 4.

The Social Hygiene Bill, providing for the prevention and cure of veneral disease, was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday by Vice-Regal message. Its main provisions are as follows : —

The constitution of the Board of Social Hygiene, consisting of the Chief Health Officer and a deputy, a male and female medical practitioner. and man and woman, who

are not medical practitioners. The establishment of local advisory boards, not more than four in number to consider cases likely to require medical treatment and detention in. a prison hospital to be established by Governor-General’s proclamation. Provision for voluntary application for detention in a prison hospital.

It. is made compulsory on persons suffering from social diseases to report to a medical practitioner and undergo treatment. In such cases a medical practitioner shall in writing direct the patient’s attention to the infections, character of disease, give him official departmental information as to treatment and duties, and to warn the patient against contracting marriage unless and until he has received a certificate of cure. .... Heavy penalties are provided lor unlawful detention in a orison hospital, escaping from a prison hospital. improper conduct in hospital, employment of persons suffering from the disease in factory, shop, hotel, etc., at work involving handling of food, the treatment of the disease by any person other than a registered medical practitioner, infecting any person, sale, or supply of drugs, except pursuant to medical prescription, ami false allegation that person is suffering from that disease. Power is sought to appoint male and female health patrols, with all the powers of constables, to protect the health and morality of young persons. It is also proposed to give the Minister and the Government additional power to make regulations for checking the spread of the disease, regulating prison hospitals, and the like. Altogether it is a very drastic measure.