CONTAGIOUS DISEASES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14926, 31 August 1910, Page 4

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES

DEPLORABLE STATE OF AFFAIRS. PROPOSED LEGISLATION. STATEMENT BY DE FINDLAY. (Pis United Press Association]; _■ .WELLINGTON, August 30. - An. import-ant statement regarding his. proposals for the amendment, of "The Public Health Act, 1908," with a view to checking the prevalence and spread of certain contagious diseases was made to the press to-night by the Hon. Dr Findla-y (Minister of Justice). " Medical testimony, police reports, and other information," said Dr Findlay, "given at tlio conference of clergymen and' doctors, held at my instance, <ind in my office on the 21th 'inst, revealed such a prevalence and increase of certain contagious diseases in our chief centres os to call for some immediate legal means of at least checking the further growth of this evil. The evidence of several of the leading medical practitioners present clearly showed, that these diseases were the cause of much suffering among many innocent women and children. Tho extent and nature, of this suffering are most distressing. For instance, probably 80 per cent, of the infantile blindness in this country is due to one of these diseases, and the necessity for surgical operations on innocent womeii is simply deplorable.. - The statistics sub; mitted not only disclosed a bad state of things, but proved: that it is getting worse. In these circumstances, I asked, should we stand unconcerned,.with hands folded, or should we try to do- something to check the growth of the evil? Tho discussion at the conference proceeded on the assurance given by the Primo Minister that the Contagious. Diseases Act would be abolished, and on the further asurance that- no legislation embodying the principka of tot act would be proposed. Whatever- law was placed on the Statute Book must apply to men and women alike, and must aim not at regulating or recognising vice, but at.protecting health. "The proposals now under consideration are «s'follow:—To make The Public Health Act, 1908,' applicable to certain contagious diseases by tho following amendments:—(a) To extend the_defini- ; tion of infectious dissas-ss so as to include these contagious ones';. (b) to amend i-sc-lion 13 to enable-regulations to bo made for isolation, if necessary, of persons affected by tho diseases; (c) to extend paragraph fe) of section 18 so that persons affected by these diseases may, when necesary, be required bv tho district 'health officer to report- themselves or-submit themselves for medical'examination at specified limes and places: (d) to extend paragraph (f) of section 25 lo make it imperative upon every medical practitioner, chemist, or other person consulted by anyone having one or other of these diseases to give notice thereof to the district _ health officer, failing compliance with this-obli-gation a fine to be imposed, and, in addition, if t'lre- convicting court thinks fit the doctor, chemist, or other person consulted lo be suspended -from practice or business for a period not exceeding six months, such notice to be strictly confidential, aiid' to be destroyed as soon as it his, served its purnosc;'(e) section 34 to be .'extended so that any person knowing that lie. or she is affected by either of these disease's and wilfullv doing anything to communicate such disease to another elinll be liable to heavy penalties; consequential amendments to be niado in the machinery of ■the Public Health Act so as to render these provisions effective." "It is not claimed for these proposals that they will remove the evil," said Dr Findlay. The most- that any provision can hope for is to reduce it or check its growth. If these powers are vested in a discreet public health officer he can do much by way of advice, warning, and, if necessary, by some measure of isolation. Some facts which have been brought under my notice in connection with llio condition of .short-sentenced prisoners of both sexes in , our gaols show, bow necessary even isolation 'sometimes is. It is impossible to trace out in detail in public print the many ways in which theso proposed .powers would check the existing evils and protect innocent persons. They would, moreover, certainly operate as a deterrent upon vice. Tho compulsory • notification of the disease would'add to its dread. The principle of the proposals. I have outlined has been approved by the Wellington branch of the British Medical Association, and I have confidence that it will be approVod by all tho clergy who were present at the conference, representing' as they did the churches of all'denominations. I have, indeed, already .received the written approval of the elc'iiy of one great denomination.' A little later, when I have got fuller information, I propose to bring this matter before the Cabinet for consideration. .