Venereal Diseases in New Zealand (1922) Report of the Special Committee of the Board of Health appointed by the Hon. Minister of Health   By: New Zealand. Committee of the Board of Health

NEW ZEALAND.

VENEREAL DISEASES IN NEW ZEALAND.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH APPOINTED BY THE HON. MINISTER OF HEALTH.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMITTEE.

Hon. W.H. TRIGGS, M.L.C., Chairman. J.S. ELLIOTT, M.D., Member of the Medical Board. Mr. MURDOCH FRASER (New Plymouth), representing the Hospital Boards of the Dominion. J.P. FRENGLEY, M.D., D.P.H., Deputy Director General of Health. Lady LUKE, C.B.E. Sir DONALD McGAVIN, K.C.M.G., C.M.G., D.S.O., Director General of Medical Services.

CONTENTS.

PART I. INTRODUCTORY AND HISTORICAL. Page

Section 1. Origin and Scope of Inquiry: Witnesses; Sittings, Date and Place of; Appreciation of Services rendered 2

Section 2. Venereal Diseases and their Effects: Ignorance, Effect of; Sex Education for Young; Syphilis and Gonorrhoea, Origin and Description; Treatment after Exposure; Diagnosis, Methods of; Treatment, Importance of Early and Completed 4

Section 3. Accidental Infection: Sources of Infection; Metchnikoff's Investigation; Food conveyance; Lavatories, Towels, Drinking cups, &c. 5

Section 4. Previous Inquiries and Conferences: Contagious Diseases Act, England; Royal Commission, 1913, Evidence, View of Compulsory Notification, Divorce and Venereal Disease, Sex Education, Instruction, and Propaganda; Australasian Medical Congresses. Committee appointed; Auckland Congress, 1914, Report presented, Nature of Notification recommended; Melbourne Conference, 1922, Review of Legislation, Comments and Recommendations; England, Committee recently appointed to report on Venereal Diseases 5

Section 5. Legislation in New Zealand, Past and Present: Contagious Diseases Act, 1869 (A), Reference to; Cases Cited (B) which require New Legislation to deal with; Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1913 (C); Detention Provisions; The Prisoners Detention Act, 1915 (D); Provisions for dealing with Venereal Diseases in Convicted Persons; Social Hygiene Act, 1917 (E); Provisions of the Act outlined; Subsidy for Maintenance in Hospitals 7

PART II. PREVALENCE OF VENEREAL DISEASE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Section 1. Medical Statistics (A): Medical Practitioners, Special Returns from, Cases reported, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis: Chancroid; Prevalence. Clinic Statistics (B): Department of Health Data; Clinic Distribution; Age Distribution; Marital Condition. Mental Hospital Statistics (C): Syphilis and Dementia Paralytica; Computations as to Prevalence of Syphilis based on Fournier's Estimate. Incidence among Maoris (D): Early Days, Miscarriages; Prevalence at Present, Origin. Death certificates (E): Two Certificates, one for Relatives, other for Registrar; British Empire Statistical Conference, Resolutions passed; Committee's Conclusion 9

Section 2. Causes of the Prevalence of Venereal Diseases in New Zealand: Infected Individuals, neglect to undergo or continue Treatment; Chiropractors; Herbalists: Overseas Introduction; Promiscuous Sexual Intercourse; Professional Prostitution; Police Evidence; "Amateur" Prostitution; Social Distribution; Extra marital Sexual Intercourse, Result of; Parental Control; Sex Education; Housing and Living Conditions; Hostels, Advantages of; Moral Imbeciles, Danger from; Delayed Marriages; Alcohol; Accidental Infections; Dances; Cinema; Returned Soldiers 11

PART III. BEST MEANS OF COMBATING AND PREVENTING VENEREAL DISEASES.

Section 1. Education and Moral Control: Chastity, Value of; Relationship between Sexes; Infected Persons, Responsibility; Church and Press influence; Parents duty to Children; Pamphlet for Parents; Sex Hygiene in Schools, Mode of Teaching; School Mothers, Value of, in Girls' School; Instruction in Sex Hygiene; Adolescents; Moral Standard, Value of 12