A NATIONAL PERIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16491, 5 March 1914, Page 2

A NATIONAL PERIL.

TREATMENT OF PATIENTS.

A FORWARD MOVEMENT. In accordance with the recent decision of the Hospital Board, the outpatients’ department at the Christchurch Hospital was open last night for the treatment of patients suffering from venereal and kindred diseases. The menace of these diseases has been brought prominently before the public of late, and the decision of the Board to offer facilities for treatment was a new development.

Last night two cases were treated, and it is expected that as time goes on the attendance of sufferers will increase.

In reply to a question the medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Scott, .informed a reporter that at the present time venereal cases requiring admission to the institution were put in the ordinary wards, where every possible care was taken to guard against contagion, but there would always be more or less risk. Personally ho felt that there should be a separate ward for these Cases, because of the contagious nature of tile diseases. A well-known local medical man, when discussing this new development at the Hospital, said that lie did not think it a wise course to set aside regular hours for tlie> treatment of these cases. When it was known that all attending the out-patients’ .department at certain hours were suffering from these diseases it would tend to keep the sufferers away. He could see no reason why these men and women should not attend at the department in the ordinary way, and then make a private arrangement as to the hour of attendance. All could be told to attend at the same time, if desired,- but no one outside’ the patients and the staff would know what hour had been decided on. In the Old Country, of course, there was no mincing matters, and all cases were treated in the lock wards. Another tiling that might help the campaign along would bo legislation preventing the treatment of cases by any one not a registered medical man. At a meeting of the local division of the British Medical Association, held on Tuesday night, the following resolution was carried :—“ That the Canterbury division of the British Medical Association is entirely in sympathy with 'the establishment by the Board of 1 a department for the treatment of venereal diseases, and as the matter is one of considerable difficulty the division would recommend that the Board consult with the honorary hospital staff and the medical superintendent as to working arrangements.” It is understood that. the Board has already asked the medical superintendent, together with the honorary 6taff and Dr Peareon, to consult regarding the arrangements, and submit a report. • - • . At a meeting of the Executive or the Women’s Christian Temperance Union yesterday, the following motions were passed unanimously:—“That this Union expresses its satisfaction with the decision of the Canterbury Hospital Board to make provision for inexpensive and easily accessible medical treatment without registration or publicity, for all sufferers from syphilis. “ That this Union also declares that any attempt to legalise the social evil by regulation will be strenuously opposed. The regulation system is condemned as being wrong in principle and a failure in practice. Regulation increases vice and fails to reduce disease; it tends to corrupt the young and to demoralise the* police charged with its administration!. ” “That a 'vote of 'thanks be 'accorded to Dr Fenwick for his action'in gloving the Hospital Board to ’ adopt measures for the ‘relief of sufferers from syphilis.’