THE SOCIAL DISEASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18235, 31 October 1922, Page 9

THE SOCIAL DISEASE.

ITS EXTENT AND MENACE.

HEALTH COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

IGNORANCE HINDERS REFORM,

[BY TELEGRAM. —SPECIAL REPORTER.]

WELLINGTON. Monday.

The core of tbe HeaJth Committee's report to Parliament on the prevalence, of venereal disease in New Zealand is that very general ignorance on the subject has stood in tho way of effective reform. This barrier is assailed by tho report, which deals plainly with a grave social menace. The document made its appearance in the House to-day.

One person in every 428 of tbe Dominion's population is being treated by registered medical practitioners for the disease in some form, reports the committee. It is admitted that comparison with other countries is impracticable. There are no accurate statistics as a basis, thus it is impossible to say whether the disease is increasing or decreasing in this country. The position is bad enough without comparison. Since the establishment of clinics 3634 patients have been treated—3o3B males and 596 females. Apart from recorded and estimated cases, the committee's investigation showed clearly that the disease is sufficiently-prevalent to cause serious concern, and to call for energetic action. Lack of Home Influence. The report deals at length with the contributory causes of the spread of the infection, and quotes the statement of the Commissioner of Police as to tho "professions:,!" and "amateur" offenders against social conduct. The latter cause, is said

to bo more serious than the former, and the evidence disclosed a good deal of laxity of conduct among young people of all social conditions, especially in the large towns. This was generally attributed by witnesses to the weakening of home influence and the restlessness of the age. , Many witnesses emphasised the relaxation jof parental control, and the tendency ! among girls to stay less at home and assist ! less in housework. Then there is the demoralising influence of bad housing and general conditions ef living. Other factors of minor impo-tance were mentioned as being contributing causes, these being the modern dress of women and certain modern forms of dancing. Some witnesses referred to the immoral tendency of some cinematograph films and posters, and the committee suggests that a stricter censorship might be exercised. Ihe evidence as to clandestine immorality was strikingly demonstrated by the citation of the statistics regarding illegitimate births, the total of first births before and within six months after marriage being 23,076 during the period 1913-1921. In other words, more than 50 per cent, of total first births occurring within 12 months after marriage result from premarriage relations. As regards the indictment against returned soldiers, respecting the spread of the disease, the report states that ample evidence was given to tho committee showing that there had been no increase due to returned soldiers. The free clinics in the chief centres for the treatment of infected patients are doing good work, but their influence for cood is greatly impaired by the fact that a proportion of the males and the majority of the females leavo off treatment before they are cured. There is no statutory power to compel them to continue treatment.

Remedial Suggestions. The recommendations of the committee are both positive and negative. Stress in the strongest terms is laid upon the duty of moral self-control, ajid the necessity for the cultivation of a healthier state of public opinion. It is suggtstrd that the stigma at present attached to sufferers from the disease should Le transferred to those who indulge in promiscuous miscon- i duct.' j The committee is convinced that there is too little parental control generally in New Zealand, and recommends the training of teachers, and provision for appropriate instruction in schools. Classification and, where necessary, segregation of mentally defective adolescents is recommended. Clinics should be made more available by being kept con. tinuously open. Every effort should be made to sacursf privacy, and a specially trained nurse should be in attendance at women's clinics, and women doctors should be secured where possible. It is also recommended that women patrols should be appointed in other centres to perform the kind of work ; that is being carried on in Christchurch. Conditional Notification. Legislation is recommended providing for what is known as conditional notification of the disease, the duty of the doctor being to notify by number or symbol only each case he treats. If a patient, however, refuses to continue treatment until cured, and will not consult another doctor or attend a clinic, it will be the duty of (ihe practitioner last in attendance to notify the case to the department by name.' Should the patient continue recalcitrant and .refuse to be examined by the medical practitioner appointed bv the Director-Gene.al of Health; the latter should be empowered to apply to a magistrate for the arrest of such person and his detention in a public hospital or other place of treatment until he is non-infec-tivei. In respect of cases in which persons suffering from the disease are not under medical treatment and are likely to spread infection, the committee recommends insistence upon the production of a medical certificate, which might bo procured from any hospital or clink; frae of charge. Penalties, including detention in a prison hospital, are recommer.df.d. Safeguards to Marriago. It is further recommended that before a license to marry is issued the intending parties mtr.t sign a paper answering certain questions as to freedom from communicable disease and from mental disease, and must make a sworn statement that the answers to such questions are true. The adoption of a jvoviaion in the Queensland Act is recommended, making this social disease a ground for the annulment / of a marriage contracted while one party is suffering from such disease in an infectious stage, provided the other party was not infcrmeci of the fact before marriage. Also that it should Up the duty of a medical practitioner who knows the facts of such a case to warn the patient against marrying, and if the patient persists, the doctor should notify tho Director-General of Health whose duty in turn would be to inform the other party, or the parents or guardians. Such communications made in good faith should be absolutely privileged. The committee also recommends that the law prohibiting unqualified or " quack " treatment shall be strengthened, and suggests that the Pharmaceutical Society niight assist in preventing such practices. In conclusion., the committee_ states that in carrying out its task it was brought into'com.act with some uninviting aspects of social life. Some of the facts disclosed v'ere of a character to give serious concern to those lovers of their country who rightly, regard it aa exceptionally fawned by naturo and desire to see its people healthy and vigorous, and clean in body and in mind. There is far toe large a proportion of mental and physical defectives reproducing their kind In view of the facts disclosed by tho inquiry tho committee is strongly of the opinion that it would be criminal neglect to allow, the evil to go on without taking energetic steps to check its ravages. The principle of the legislation proposed is ".to improve tho health of the community, and not, as in the old Contagious Diseases Act, to make immorality tsaie for men of low morals." j