V.D. COMMITTEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16815, 18 August 1922, Page 9

V.D. COMMITTEE.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 17. Evidence was given before the V.D. Committee that since* the Auckland clinic was established in 1920. there had been 1248 cases treated, including 1056 men. the rest being women ami children. The figures were taken as showing the large increase of both gonorrhea and syphilis in the city, and the large disproportion between men and women who were reporting. Dr Falconer Brown, officer in charge of the Auckland clinic, said he considered compulsory notification, while excellent in theory, was open to question. Prophylaxis, which proved of great value in the Army, was a thoroughly desirable measure, but at. present public opinion would probably not countenance it. Clinincsj should be installed in all moderate-sized towns, with accommodation for inpatients. Dr Hilda Northcroft. representing the National Council of AY omen, said that the causes were lack of home training and and parental control. Tho suggested remedies were compulsory treatment of all infected persons, prevention of treatment by others than duly qualified medical practitioners, making it an offence to communicate the disease to another person. wide extension of education measures, and, as a measure of desperation in tho meantime, propliy 1 axis. Dr Frank Mncky. venereal disease specialist, was of oninion that the provision of tho Social Hygiene Act forbidding other than medical practitioners to treat the disease was non-effec-tive. becau.se of the publicity, in the. event of a prosecution, accruing to w itnesses. He considered the use of prophylaxis an extremely efficient preventative. but the public would not tol - erate open advances of this method at the present, stage.