TO CURE DISEASE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 24, 5 March 1914, Page 5

TO CURE DISEASE.

THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS. The new out-patients' department at the hospital, for the treatment of genito-urinary - diseases, was opened yesterday, but no cases claimed the attention of the doctor. The negative result was not altogether unexpected by those in charge of the hospital or the originators of the scheme, for it will take some time the department becomes known and is made use of.

A medical man who has taken a prominent part in founding this department, said this morning that he expected to see the treatment of serial diseases still further developed by Act of Parliament, and* by an Act much wider in scope than the condemned '' C.D. Act.'' He said that a Bill promoted by Christchurch medical men in 1908, and rejected by Mr Seddon, would again be put before the House. This Bill proposed that men and women suffering from sexual diseases should be v treated alike, only women should be treated by women doctors and men would attend to male cases. All cases coming before the notice of a chemist or a- doctor would be reported to an Inspector-General, who would order the sufferer to undergo treatment, but it would be optional whether they went into hospital or were treated at home by a qualified medical man. In the last case, of course, the doctor would be responsible to the Inspector-General. Referring to the new out-patients' department, he said he thought it would be extensively availed •of when it became generally known that the fee for treatment was only 1/6, and that people who were unable to afford that would be treated for nothing. This should prevent people from putting off treatment on account of expense. The department should act as a deterrent to the spread of disease, and prove beneficial when it becomes more widely known.