THE SECRET SCOURGE

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 9

THE SECRET SCOURGE

REPORT OF ROYAL COMMISSION. TEN PER CENT AFFECTED. S?ro:.i Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, March 10. " The number of persons who have been affected with syphilis, acquired or congenital, cannot fail below 10 per cent, of the population in the large cities." It is on this assumption, which is well borne out by the evidence and figures furnished by the expert witnesses examined, that the Royal Commission on Venereal Diseases bases its recommendations. These are not drastic, the commission says, inasmuch as only in a few cases does it recommend compulsion, but if adopted in their entirety they would quite revolutionise the method of dealing with a trouble which to-day more than ever is showing its baneful effect on the population. The recommendations amount really to a plea for a more frank treatment of the whole subject and for education of the public, with some suggestion of notification. Sir William Osier records his opinion that syphilis comes third or fourth amongst the killing diseases, very many deaths which are actually due to it escaping attention. Such diseases as locomotor ataxy and general paralysis of the insane are not known by the* public as being exclusively syphilitic in origin, and similarly aneurism of the aorta, or there would probably be still further "finessing" of death certificates to avoid hurting the feelings of relatives. As it is, the figures show that onlv 1639 deaths in 1910 were stated to be due to syphilis, 2213 to general paralysis, 580 to locomotor ataxy, and 1123 to aneurism. The mortality figure? seem to show a steady decrease in deaths from venereal disease, but this the commission will not accept at all. The members hold_ that the methods of recording are so inaccurate and the reasons for hiding the cause of death so cogent that figures mean nothing, and they plainly consider that the diseases referred to are as bad as 40 years ago. AN ILLUMINATING TABLE. The recorded death rate per million of males over 15 years of age for syphilis and three consequential diseases is classified as follows : Class of Societv. Per million Unskilled labourers • ••• 429 Intermediate between skilled and unskilled 304 Upper and middle classes ... 302 Intermediate between skilled labour and middle classes... 280 Skilled labour 264 Textile workers IE6 Miners l'?7 Agricultural labourers 108 The comparative immunity of miners aud agricultural labourers from both syphilis and aneurism confirm the connection between the two diseases. The general conclusion in the report is that syphilis is most prevalent amongst the highest grades of the upper class and the lowest grades of unskilled labour. The percentage of the civil population which is affected with what is often considered the minor diseasn (gonorrhea) is believed to greatly exceed the 10 per cent, which is affected with the major disease. In tabulating the resultant disorders following svphilis the report mentions those which arc of arterial origin—paralysis, loss of speech, speech disorders, loss of memory and mental enfeeblement. At least 90 per cent, of cases of aneurism of the aorta are due to syphilis. The more dangerous form of syphilitic affection of the" nervous system include locomotor ataxy, optic atrophy, and general- paralyse. The last-named is the most serious result of syphilis, attacking people in the prime of life and being responsible for from 14 to 15 per cent, of the male admissions to the asylums of London and other large cities. THE MINOR DISEASE. In regard to the minor disease (Gonorrhea), the commission says that this is often regarded as a light matter, and hence the opportunity of attacking it in its incipient stages is often lose. It is especially serious in the ease of females, frequently leading to chronic invalidism and sometimes to death. It is also quite prevalent amongst children, who receive the infection through carelessness on the part of their elder;?. Discussing the economic effects of venereal disease, the report says that it is responsible for the loss of a great deal of child life and, by attacking people at all ages and in all parts, causes a great loss of efficiency. It is estimated that from 30 to 50 per cent, of the cases of sterility in women is duo to this cause and a very "Teat proportion of still births, and infant mortality. Congenital syphilis often leads to blindness and deafness in early life, with imbecility, idiocy, and various forms of skin and bone disease. The navy in 1912 lost 269,000 working days on a strength of 120,000, and the army usually loses twice as many days per year as ther o are men on the .strength, and, yet both amry and navy have better facilities for dealing with these troubles than the civil population. The expenditure in treating cases of general paralysis in hospitals in England amounts to £90,000 a year, with an extra £60,000 for the treatment of lunatics produced by the same cause. It is the neglect of the disease in its early stages that causes those results, much of which could bo avoided. Therefore the commission strongly urges that every patient must .have the freest and earliest possible access to medical treatment; and there should be no social, economic, or administrativo disabilities to deter him from making use of it. Notification is discussed at length, and the commission comes to the conclusion that at the present time it is impracticable and more is to be expected from education. For the same reason treatment by unqualified persons is not altogether tabooed. Measures are certainly required

to prevent or delay the marriage of persons suffering from both diseases, but the commission does not consider it possible to organise at present a system of proper certificates of fitness to marry. NULLITY OF MARRIAGE. The recommendation of the Divorce Commission that the fact that a person was at the time of marriage suffering from one of these diseases should be a ground for tho other to obtain a decree of nullity is approved. In fact, the present commission goes farther and urges that the mere existence of an infectious state, whether the guilty party is aware of it or not, should" be a valid ground, but the law should be amended so that children already born of the marriage should not be rendered illegitimate by the annulment. In their general conclusion the members of the commission state that the effects of secret diseases on the nation are so sprave that every effort should be made to bring within reach of all who are affected the modern facilities for dealing with them. Education and appeals to conscience and honour by religions and other bodies may have an ultimate effect, but in the meantime what is wanted is early treatment and readiness to take advantage of it. As a final exhortation to Stats action, the report says : " Wo wish to lay stress upon the needs of the future. The diminution of the best manhood of the nation, due to the losses of the war, must tell heavily upon the birth rate —already declining—and upon the numbers of efficient workers. The reasons for combating diseases which operate with disastrous effect aiike upon birth rate and upon working efficiency are, therefore, far more urgent than ever before. . Now and in the years to come the question of public health must be a matter of paramount importance, and no shortsighted parsimony should be allowed to stand in the way of all means that science can suggest and organisation can supply for guarding the present and future generations, upon which tho restoration of national prosperity must depend."