VENEREAL DISEASE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11735, 24 January 1924, Page 5

VENEREAL DISEASE

INCREASE IN CASES POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH DESCRIBED AS A SCANDAL. DISCUSSION AT HOSPITAL BOARD Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, January 23. Members of th© North Canterbury Hospital Board, to-day, commented on the increase of of venereal disease treated at the Christchurch Hospital. The following figures dealing with th> cases at the hospital for December and January were submitted. They are: Attendance, December 303, January £ 6B; patients 110, and 108; new patients 42, and 35. Dr. Fenwick, chairman of the hospital committee, said the Government should take steps to deal with the disease without delay. Mr W. E. Leadley said the figures showed there were 77 new cases reported at the hospital in the past, two months. In spite of the venereal diseases commission’s excellent report nothing had been done. As the board was the first to urge the appointment of the commission it should try to have i.he recommendation adopted. It was a rcandal to have 77 new cases reported at one hospital in two months. In reply to Mr Leadley the chairman said one lady inspector was employed at present. Mrs Roberts: Are there no men inspectors ? Dr. Fenwick: Women have moi ? tact than men. A man who did the work might get a black eye every minute. The Social Hygiene Society is si splendid organisation. It is doing what it can, but the Govemmeiit should take action on the lines of the coomtn.'ssion’s report. It was decided to draw the Health Department’s attention to the number of cases at the Ohristchurth Hospital, and to ask that the commission’s recommendations should be placed before the House of Representatives at the earliest opportunity.