SECRET DISEASES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16752, 21 July 1916, Page 4

SECRET DISEASES.

Tut, speech by tho Minister of Public Health in tho Iloti'-o of Representatives on Wednesday night afforded tho first definite information which the public has received respecting tho proposals of tho Government for dealing with the prevalence of venereal disea-ses. Tlio War Regulations Bill simply gives tho Government "carto blanche" to treat tho pioblem in the way it deems bojt. It is quite in tho spirit of the Bill itself that Mr Russell suggests that the community may trust the Government and its administrative departments to take fueh measures as will, without discrimination against any one sex, bo effective to combat tho existence of the i-courge. But tins involves a somewhat heavy demand upon, the confidence of the public in TC-pcet of a matter which has given a great deal of concern to earnest men and women throughout the Empire and Ins been the fubject of exhaustive investigation by Royal Commissions, without, as a result, any common plan of action being arrived at. The tremendous importance of the rubject and its intimate bearing \i\h n the future welfare of the ia.ee constitute in themseUes a sufficient reason why tho community should be advised as to the lines of action along which tho Government proposes; to proceed under tho power that is to be vested in it. From Mr Russell's explanation of the policy of the Government in relation to tho matter, it is to bo gathered that reliance is principally to be placed on the segregation of infected persons. This is a \ery diastic proposal, but the case is one that calls for drastic remedies, and as long as the Go\ ernment is prepared to exercise its powers in ie-pect of infected men and infected women alike, without any discrimination between tho sexes, there fhould be no objection to the adoption of a j-oliey of segregation. But this policy will touch certain classes only. The military .authonties can enforce the relegation of infected members of the Expeditionary Foices, and the segregation of members of the vagrant and criminal classes ran bo carried out. The probably large class oi' infected persons which consists of those who are neithei soldiers nor criminals will, however, not come within the .scope of this branch of the Government's pioposalp, and this is the class with which it is most difficult to deal. The prevision of free treatment at hospitals for members of this class is the plan which is mo-t strongly recommended by the best authorities, and it is satisfactory to observe that the Government proposes to follow it. The plan should include rn anangement, as advised by the British Royal Commission, under which evening clinics should be established for the out patient treatment of the disease in persons who are employed at woik during the day. The proposal that the treatment of venereal disease by perrons who aie not qualified medical practitioners should be a criminal offence w r ill also commend itself, and Dγ Thacker's suggestion that the publication newspapers of " huge display advertisements" by quacks should bo prohibited might also be serviceably adopted if the evil itself existed, but we may remark that a search by Dr Thacker of all the respectable papers in the dominion will not bring to light a fingle advertisement of this description. We note with satisfaction the emphasis which {he Minister laid on the necessity and a aluo of an educational campaign. "Tho evils which lead to tho spread of venereal diseases are," —we quote from the final report of the British Royal Commission—"'in great part, due to want of control, ignorance, and inexperience, and the importance of wisely conceived educational measures can hardly be exaggerated. . . .

TheTe can be little doubt that a franker attilude towards theso diseases would lead to le-s concealment, often involving recouiPe to quack remedies which m.iy retard cuio or lender it impossible, and would thus as<ujt in checking one of the greatest e\ ils that can afflict a community." We should add that, while the Minhtei's statement that very few of the soldieis who are at, present segregated are mm who hive returned from the- front must bo accepted as accuiate, we aie not di°pored to attach equal value to his assurance that a very careful examination of all the returned tioop'hip? has been made. Th«? information whLh we ha\e leceived on this point has distinctly suggested the likelihood of the introduction of the disease into the country by infected men whose condition has not been disclosed to the authorities.