VENEREAL DISEASES

Southland Times, Issue 23334, 19 October 1937, Page 8

VENEREAL DISEASES

BETTER CONTROL SOUGHT (Speqial to The Times) WELLINGTON, October 18. A revision of the law relating to venereal diseases is under consideration by the authorities. This statement is made by the Director-General of Health (Dr M. H. Watt) in his annual report which has been presented in the House of Representatives. “The consensus of opinion of medical officers in c'''.e of venereal disease clinics is thu syphilis is on the decline,” says L ; Watt. “These opinions are supported by figures from other sources, including deaths from syphi- ’ ’., locomotor ataxia, and general par/'■.lu of the insane, and admissions to ..<_ntal hospitals, of which the assignj cause was syphilis. Opinion is divided as to whether the increase in the number of attendances at clinics of patients suffering from gonorrhoea represents a real increase in this disease. It is possible that a better knowledge of the presence of the facilities for treatment may have led to their wider use. . ' “The arrangements which have been made for treatment of sailors in accordance with the International Agreement appear to be working smoothly, and it is satisfactory to record that the medical officers in charge of V.D. clinics have no reason to believe that infection is imported from overseas to any extent. The need for better control of venereal diseases is realized by the Health Deuartment, and for this purpose the revision of the present law is under consideration. The powers conferred by Act and regulations can be strengthened by elimination of known weaknesses.” A table in the report summarizes the returns of treatment for venereal diseases at the clinics at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. The total cases treated at these clinics during 1936 were as follows:— Number of persons dealt with for first time and found to be suffering from—

Syphilis Soft sore Gonorrhoea No venereal disease 132 11 1,385 273 99 1 473 207 Total attendance suffering from — of persons Syphilis Soft sore Gonorrhoea 5,028 85 61,428 5,037 6 17,954 Number of persons from— suffering Syphilis Gonorrhoea 3,959 4,387 2.650 2,550