Truth DESTRUCTIVE DISEASE

NZ Truth, Issue 578, 15 July 1916, Page 4

Truth

DESTRUCTIVE DISEASE

THE PEOPLE'S PAPER.

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SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1916

A COMMONWEALTH COMMITTEE'S CONCLUSIONS

The report dealing with tho prevalence of "venereal" diseases m Australia, which has been issued by tho Special Committee appointed by the Commonwealth Cabinet will, no doubt, do good. The Committee consists of Sir Harry Alien' (Dean of. the Medical Faculty of the University of Melbourne), Dr. Cumpaton (Director or Quarantine), and Dr. Jeffrey Wood, with Mr. Matthews, MiP., aa chairman. Tho proposal made by tho Committee that tho Government of tho Commonwealth should "approach tho Governments of tho States with a view to securing concerted action" is "worthy of all acceptation," and so, too, is the Commltteo'a recommendation that tho Government of tho Commonwealth should undertake "reasonable financial responsibility" for the further provision "for the means of diagnosis for hospital and other treatment and for research." Prompt and energetic action is more necessary now than at any other time; for there la no historical faot moro conclusively proved than that venereal disease flourishes much moro during a war, and soon aftor ono, than at any other time; and th© proaont war Is tho greatest that tho world haa over aeon.

In considering tho cause*! of 10---cailed venereal disease, however, and Its »proad and possible suppression, it would be well 10 take Into consideration certain facta that arc generally Ignored by many persons In authority In dealing with thl» mattor. Ono of theuo thlnga is that the existence of wowserism how been Iho main obstacle to the Huppreiwlon of venereal ulju-uho; and another fact I* Umi, although »ocaltod venereal tUneaaw 1», no doubt, spread by prostitution. It could dimntroufily affect a whole community even IX prostitution w«r* totally extirpated;

and, further, that such disease might exist even If the human race had become so ascetic as to refrain altogether from illicit intercourse, and even from marriage. Such diseases could still exist, and do much harm.

Tho truth is that, aj» haa been pointed out by many authorities, and &a statod In evidence by the Hon. Alblnia Brodrick boforo the. British Royal ComtnlKsion, a mistake was made long ago m calling theso diseaaew venereal. Tho evidence of the Hon. " Albinia Brodrick on this point, which was published In the interim report of tho British Royal Commission, was aa follows: —

Tho Chairman: Do you think that the prea» should bo absolutely free to express Itself about tho diseases, at all times, as It would about tuberculosis? The Hon. Alblnia Brodcrick: I do. I should bo far lift It out of tho venereal point of view that I would abrogate that tltlo altogether. I would not call It venorcal disease. • • • "Venereal" Is derived from "Venus." tho namo of tho "goddess of lovo and femolo beauty." Consequently, a man suffering from a "venereal" dloeaso 1h generally assumed to havo acquired It m soxual contact with a member of tho other box. The fact m, however, that although thin Ih tho most common mctttiM of communicating thcao dlHctu«'R, Huch coniacl m not at all a no<H»««ary nioann. Thu thrcv "venereal" dfHf/Attex — or. as they a.r«< called In Queensland. "t«nlhutk:" tlijtco«e»"—uro cauued by (jortnn; mid miyihin;j that will enablo ih<*«« iturttw Id enter tho human lnniy will e«-i up Una Jliwiusvrjt U.cy cuu.hu. a chsui with a cut lwmd whose hand conU'M In cotsUcl with tiuy dischar«{o frytii a