A Criticism of Dr. Findlay's Proposals.

White Ribbon, Volume 16, Issue 183, 15 September 1910, Page 7

A Criticism of Dr. Findlay's Proposals.

The following criticisms and suggestions regarding the proposals for dealing with Contagious Diseases have been sent to Dr. Findlay: ‘ \ The Legal and Parliamentary Department of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union regrets the proposed introduction by Dr. Findlay of penal clauses under the Public Health Act, 1908, with regard to special Contagious Diseases. It appears to the Department that a scheme of tne kind proposed contains elements likely to defeat its

own object, and endanger, rather than protect, the public health. This Department believes that there are only two sound lines upon which to proceed to combat the undoubted evils of syphilis, viz :

i. The Education of the Young.

This is strongly advocated by the recent International Conference held at Brussels. This Conference was composed of some 360 members of 33 nationalities. Of these, 107 were Government delegates representing 26 different countries, mostly European, but including the United States, Persia, and Japan. Our own War Office and the Indian Office were represented, together with the Royal College of Surgeons, the Irish College of Surgeons, and the British Medical Association. Out of the entire number, 295 were doctors, and a large number of these held public posts in the “Service of Health,” or as Professors of the special subject. The sixty-five non-medical members included Ministers of State, Heads of Police or Health Departments, delegates of municipalities, legal authorities and professors, and a few other persons individually invited on the ground of special competence, and representing, for the most part, the sociological side of the subject; among these were several women.

To show what is being done to combat this disease in those countries where they are supposed manage these things better than in England, it may be pointed out that Dr. Boureau, of Paris, gives public lectures on the subject every year to students and to working men. Professor Neisser has a full course every winter for the University students generally, each of whom also receives on Matriculation a notice warning him of the dangers attending an irregular life, and putting before him the moral aspects of the question. The Minister of Education had recommended that similar measures should be taken in all the Prussian Universities.

Professors Fournier, Troisfountaines, and others proposed, or had already adopted, a system whereby to diffuse infoimation, thus affording “ Protection by Knowledge.”

Mr Jonathan Hutchinson, the English specialist, who attended as

one of the representatives of the Royal College of Surgeons, and whose European reputation made him the object of the most respectful attention, advised that young men in public schools and colleges should be warned and instructed, and the instruction should include moral considerations and respect for the purity of women. A diminution of vice would bring with it a diminution of disease.

With regard to men in the Army Mr Hutchinson said that if the matter were put before the men in a reasonable way, he was convinced that they would respond, and that would do more to diminish disease in the Army than all the regulation that could be devised.

This Department suggests that the Education Department of New Zealand should procure the services of specialists to educate the young people in our schools and universities by means of scientific teaching concerning the functions of their bodies, the dangers consequent on the misuse of them, and the value of healthful self-control. This course has not yet been tried in New Zealand, and the Legal and Parliamentary Department of the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union considers that in view of the statements of such eminent specialists as are above quoted, it should be given a fair trial. The Department is convinced that this is much the most hopeful method of dealing with the evil, for it is a question of divided opinion whether, once the disease has been contracted, any subsequent treatment can cure the victim or remove the danger to the community. The second line is : 2. The Absolutely Free Treatment of Hvery Patient suffering from any Form of this Disease.

Such treatment can only be carried out where the patient cheerfully and freely offers himself or herself for treatment, and both on the Continent of Europe and in England this has T>een effected only where the patients have been convinced that they are perfectly free to come and go. At the lecent Brussels Conference several speakers laid stress on the absence of compulsory detention as an essential of voluntary applications for treatment. Dr Nevins

instanced the case of the Glasgow Infirmary, where for some years patients of this kind were required on entering to sign a promise to remain until discharged. It was found that patients refused to sign, and presently ceased to come at all, and the rule had to be rescinded. The fear of compulsory detention had been fatal to success of the scheme everywhere. Dr Boureau said that there was a philanthropic society in Paris which maintained a free dispensary for these patients.

" The Clandestines whom the police fail to reach come to us,” he said. “At first they feared we would detain them, but now they come freely, and often bring their com panions.” The fact that prominent medical men of high standing declare emphatically that they will not notify all cases, no matter what the law may provide, is in itself a proof of the uselessness of the proposed legislation. (Signed) FANNY’ COLE, President. M. B. Lovell-Smith, Superintendent of Department.