The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1915. DOCTORS DIFFER.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 242, 18 August 1915, Page 9

The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1915. DOCTORS DIFFER.

We have noticed in the reports sent in by several Unions that they desire more knowledge before dealing with the proposals brought in for the treatment of venereal disease. The New Zealand doctors arc asking for compulsory notification and compulsory detention for these diseases. Now, to show how doctors differ, and that the expert medical opinion in Great Britain is egainst these proposals, we publish below some evidence given before the Royal Commission on Venereal Diseases, appointed by the British House of Commons. We ask every White Ribboner to read this evidence, and sec that almost unanimously the doctors are against all compulsory methods, and how they advocate free treatment and education.

If Unions will “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” this evidence, they will sec that the W.C.T.U. Convention, in opposing all compulsory mea sures, and asking for free treatment for patients who voluntarily, present themselves, and education for all, is in accord with the highest medical opinions of Great Britain. If a doctor comes to a White Ribboner and orders alcohol, he is at once told, “Sir, you are behind the times; no doctor of any standing orders alcohol.” And when the N.Z Medical Association comes to us and asks us to support compulsory treatment for venereal disease, we say, “Sirs, your advice is against all the best medical opinion of Great Britain. Army and navy doctors with wide experience all condemn compulsory measures. Compulsory measures haVe been tried in older lands, and the disease has increased. Why should we join you in asking for measures that have proved a failure wherever tried? We intend to stand side by side with the expert medical opinion of the Motherland, and with them demand Free Treatment and Education.”