VENERAL DISEASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10351, 12 August 1922, Page 4

VENERAL DISEASE.

EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION. WELLINGTON, August 9.

Before the Venereal Diseases Commission, Mr John Caughley, Director of Education, spoke of the importance of children having some knowledge of physiology.

Dr. Collins. M.L.C., said that 80 per cent, of the operations upon women for diseases of the uterus were caused by gonorrhoea. Twenty per cent, of the cases of blindness wore caused by gonorrhoo4, aud from 30 to 50 per cent, of the childless marriages were directly caused by gonorrhoea. Every case of the general paralysis of the insane was duo to syphilis. Almost every case of locomotor ataxia was duo to syphilis. By taking stern measures it ought to bo possible, by true scientilio methods to rid New Zealand of these diseases. The methods adopted should be education in schools, propaganda work throughout the Dominion by means of pamphlets, lectures by slides and films, and sexual cleanliness. The issuing of a confidential certificate of death by venereal disease should be forwarded to the Registrar-General by the medical attendant, as well as the one given the friends of the deceased. Ur. Collins advocated compulsory notification, and a declaration that they wore free from the disease by all people landing in New Zealand. He spoke of the fearful evils of the disease, ancl said that fresh legislation was necessary. Merciless measures should he used to stamp out a disease which was merciless in its e'fecls.