SOCIAL SCOURGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11302, 30 August 1922, Page 7

SOCIAL SCOURGE

VENEREAL DISEASES EVIDENCE BEFORE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE. MANY TERRIBLE CASES. PKTI TRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, August 29. Tho Venereal Diseases Committee of the Board of Health sat hero to-day. Dr P. dennell Fenwick, Assistant Director of Medical Services for _ the South Island, who took a prominent part in prompting the inquiry into venereal diseases and who has made a study as to its prevalence, said that while in practice in the North Island he noted with great concern how young the average patient was. The ages were from 17 to 20 years with two veryearly cases. He continued: “I was greatly concerned about the yout-l fulness of these cases I was seeing. The opinion expressed was that there were a certain number of young girls whoso morals were lax and who were spreading tho disease through ignorance of their own illness, also the police frankly expressed the opinion that the fault was thvt professional women were 'chased out of the town’ as soon as discovered and amateur prostitution was the result. From 1906 to 1914 I was practising in Christchurch, and my practice again became rather full of these cases. I only kept a record by ‘numbers,’ as I found that the patients objected to my taking notes of their illness. I think I can honestly estimate the number of V.D. oases, seen by me each year, at 76. This is the lowest estimate) I could make, but I must admit that many of these patients came to me from considerable distances, so the number does not mean that the eases occurred in Christchurch only. Dr Pearson has informed me he cannot say that he has noticed any increase in the number of syphilitic cases since the return of our men from service. ’• ADVOCATE OF COMPULSORY 'NOTIFICATION. Reviewing suggestions for combating the disease, Dr Fenwick said he had always been a strong advocate for compulsory notification. He was aware, however; there was a strong prejudice against any compulsion, and in order to meet public opinion he suggested a conditional notification, namely, that each person affected should be treated and no notification be made as long as the person continues his treatment, hut power should be given to deal with persons declining to continue treatment. He suggested that persons who attended for the first attaok should he treated on separate days to others who have contracted disease by prostitution. LACK OF PARENTAL CONTROL. Answering Lady Luke, Dr Fenwiok said it would be a great help if women doctors attended at the hospitals. Sir Donald McGavin: Do you think that lack of parental control in New Zealand is one of the greatest obstaoles in dealing with this question? Witness: I am perfectly sure of it. In further evidence, Dr Fenwick stated the 'average man would not listen to advice, but It would save the country if these men had an opportunity of saving themselves. He had no experience in the relative prevalence of diseases in “wet” and “dry’’ districts. The chairmanlt has been suggested that licensed houses might be established, and I understand you oppose this? Dr Fenwick: Yes; I have studied this question in Paris a nit Japan. It is against all the moral ideas of the average clean man. 1 The chairman: Would ■it not give a false sense of security? Dr Fenwick: I am sure It does. NO MARKED INCREASE. Dr. A. 0. Thompson, officer-in-oharge of the venereal disease clinio at Christchurch, stated that the attendances at the clinio showed no marked increase in the incidence o-f venereal disease. Any increase that has occurred is only the natural result of the opening of the new department, and also of the clinic becoming more widely known. “I have really no information to guide me as to the prevalence of venereal diseases in New Zealand,” he said, “my own impression being that venereal diseases are increasing.” Replying to questions by the chairman (the Hon. W. H. Triggis) as to the class of women who contracted tho disease, Dr. Thompson said the majority were young girls working in factories, in domestic service, and in hotels. The chairman said they had evidence that there was a large amount of promiscuous intercourse among young people at social gatherings, and he asked if witness knew of any of these circumstances. Dr. Thompson said he did not think ono city was much different from another in this respect. WORSE THAN LEPROSY. Dr. Pearson 1 ,, bacteriologist at the Christchurch Hospital, said that judging from his observations he thought gonorrhoea was very prevalent in the district, but apparently syphilis was not a prevalent disease here. For the treatment of gonorrhoea alone, however/ tho expense of establishing- a special department would be justified. With syphilis he need not detail the terrible ravages of the disease, but he believed it could be reduced to a negligible quantity by the establishment of clinics. Certainly they did not see many early syphilitics, but they sawmany terrible cases in their later stages. “We lock np the unfortunate leper for life, a sufferer whose power ■ f contagion cannot approach that of a syphilitic,” he added, “while the latter is subject to no control whatever. All-day clinics with expert officers would co-operate very powerfully in controlling the disease. If they do not come up to my expectations then let the leper go and use his island for the detention of the unruly syphilitic.” On behalf of the Social Hygiene Society, Mrs E. Roberts (president) said the society expressed a strong objection to the O.D. Act on the ground that the Act wae a direct incentive to vice and that it operated against women only. OTHER DOCTORS’ OPINIONS Dr Fox, Superintendent of the Christchurch Hospital, said that the greatest obstacle for tho eradication of the disease was tho lack of power to enforce treatment. Mon attended refor treatment, but the reverse was the case with women. Until compulsion was applied venereal diseases could not be eradicated. Dr C. H. Up ham, of Lyttelton, said ho saw very few cases of venereal disease himself. This ho attributed to the habit of sailors consulting chemists. Sailors suffering from the disease should bo kept aboard l ship and only allowed aohoro under escort. Very few cases were brought tc him under the provisions of the International Act. Ol* Nedwill, gaol surgeon at Papa- , run, aaid the admissions For tho last ! two .years had been 751, and at the

female prison, at Addington, 126, and the number of venereal oases treated wero six males and four females. One female had been detained for a month under the Prisoners’ Detention Act. TGNORANCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE Dr Currie deposed that the ignorance of young people in matters of sex was deplorable. Compulsory notice, in his opinion, would have the effect of drawing V.D. _ underground. Be advocated publicity and education. CAUSE OF OPERATIONS. Dr John Guthrie said that while there was no professional class of prostitutes hi the _ Dominion there were as many indiscriminate practices carried on here as in Europe. He quoted two instances to shew that venereal infection by women was responsible for trouble at confinements and for many operations. He oomsidered V.D. was a cause of the reduced birth-rate in that it led to sterility, and it was also a great cause of still-birth®. SATISFACTORY RECORD. Dr Irving, in charge of St. Helena Hospital, said there had only been five cases of_V,D. among patients in eleven years. There had not been any cases born showing inherited syphilis and no oases of gonorrhoeal ophthalmia. Dr Sandston, president of the men’s branch of the Social Hygiono Society expressed himself in favour of com puli sory notification and against prophylactics. ' Major Barnes, ol the Salvation Arniy Home, and Hr landsay also gave evidence. Tho commission leaves for Dunedin 10-TOOJTOTV.