SEX MANIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11332, 9 March 1915, Page 5

SEX MANIA.

TO THK EDITOR. 'Sir, —During the Ja-st. few years a comparatively large number of cases of sex mania, with deplorable publicaction on the part of the sufferers, has occurred in New Zealand. Medical men have long recognised that the cor root way to deal with these sufferers is surgically, because the offensive act, in ninety-nine oases out of a hundred, is committed because of a. diseased physical condition, which oondition can be removed by surgery, and is actually being removed by sur- , gerv privately in many cases. It is simply a fact that sufferers from this disease have no control whatever I over their immediate actions. Therefore. persons afflicted in this way are not really criminals at all, any nioro than any other kind of mentally-de-ranged patient is a criminal. For the benefit of the public, of course, these persons must be treated, but the proper method of treatment for persons ■suffering from sex mania cannot be given ill ordinary prison by ordinary wardors, but only in a hospital by medical men. When the sufferer is treated in the latter way. ho is cured: when ho is treated in the former way, that is simply put into prison, be is not cured at all, and at the end of a. period of months years lie is turned loos? again in the community a, greater menace tha.n ever. 'When these facts are known and admitted 'by all well-informed .medical men, it is surely high time that our legislators made Ihe law consistent with medical knowledge. 1 would urge upon the public of New Zealand the immediate necessity of giving careful consideration to tlicse matters, and doing their part towards abolishing the present unscientific legislation—quite as unscientific as the thrashing of lunatics indulged in during the Bedlam days—and substituting wise, humane and scientific laws in accord with the advanced state of medical knowledge.—l a.m. etc.. W. H. SIMPSON. M.D. 34. Latimer Square. C'hristchurch. March 8, 1915.'

TO THK EDITOR. Sir,-If the medical faculty would only do its duty to all male infants, as prescribed by the Mosaic law, and mothers would, as in former times, instruct their growing daughters in everything appertaining to their womanhood, there would be an cud to what is termed " se\ mania," lint which, freely interpreted. is a scourge and menace to the rising generation. Why should the descendants of the Hebrews have a monopoly over the ma'in hygienic morl'". iif living? - T am.