VENEREAL DISEASE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20500, 30 August 1928, Page 11

VENEREAL DISEASE.

QUESTION OF COMPULSORY TREATMENT. iFbom Ottr Own Correspondent.) LONDON. July 27. A strong appeal that further power should be conferred ou medical practitioners and local authorities with a view to strengthening the voluntary system by placing compulsion on all persons affected with venereal disease was made at the meeting of the British Medical Association. The resolution dealing with the subject declared that it would secure the submission to treatment and continuance under treatment of such persons until discharged by a registered medical practitioner.

Dr D. Lees {Edinburgh) said that 63 per cent, of people in England, 45 per cent, in Wales, and 51 per cent, in Scotland failed to continue under treatment until discharged. In view of that, could anyone say that the present schemes -were overcoming the disease, let alone stamping it. out? Mr Bishop Harman contended that compulsion would drive the disease underground. Mr E, B Turner (London) said that since the Koval Commission there had been a distinct diminution of the disease. Compulsion had been tried in the colonies and dependencies, and also in America, with results that in some cases were fairly satisfactory, and in others not satisfactory at all. He was certain that if any system of compulsion were introduced in England it would not sucked. He moved an amendment involving local option. Dr Braekenbury said (hat venereal disease was one of the last things which was susceptible of successful treatment by local option. The amendment was lost, as also was the original motion.