CO129-472 - Others - 1921 — Page 408

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SOCIAL DISEASES.

DISCUSSION AT MEETING,

ADDRESS BY DR. HALLAM.

Under the auspices of the National Council for Combating Venereal Dia- cases, a meeting for men was held yesterday at the hall of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the methods of dealing with the pro- blem. It was well attended.

The Hon. Mr. P. H. Holyoak, the representative of the Chamber of Commerce on the Legislative Coun- cil, presided. He said that the Governor had suggested that the Chamber of Commerce would be the most suitable body to call the meet- ing.

Dr. Rupert Hallam, a member of the Commission at present visiting the Far East to study the problem, de- livered an address. He urged that it was essentially a public health ques- Hon. For generations the policy of ignoring it had been followed, with the result that the general public re mained in a state of ignorance which as responsible for much of the spread of disease. It was often said: "The victims of these diseases deserved all the punishment they get, and we see [no reason why steps should be taken help them." Dr. Hallem pointed to the number of children bom with disease, the huge proportion of women infected innocently, and a proportion

of men in the same position. It was also said that these dreadful diseases only existed to any extent among the "submerged tenth." It was not generally realised how common they were amongst all classes of the com- munity until the Royal Commission issued its report in 1916, based on evidence from England, the Contin- ent, and America. The report startled

the British public, it showed that one- tenth of all the people in the big cities were affected with the more serious

of these diseases, and one-Afth with the less serious. In some Contin- ental cities the proportions were higher, and Germany confessed to figures twice as bad for some of her big cities. The Commission pointed our that workhouses and asylums for the insane were full of people suffer- ing from the effects of these diseases. Fifty-five per cent. of the children Fin blind institutions were there be

cause their parents were infected.

Dr. Hallam gave an account of the nature of the principal venereal dis- eases, urging especially the import- ance of immediate treatment.

He

aid that only through a campaign for public enlightenment could this early Treatment be secured. It was the hty of every community to see that the means of treatment were avail- ble. This was a bi-sexual problem, and women should know As much

about it as mom. Women now were

mot afraid to talk on the subject; the Press, too, printed details to an 150- tent that was untbought of low years ago. Amongst other education- | Fel means of dealing with the problem. Dr. Hallam mentioned the necessity combating the erroneous idea that

Was ne

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The Chairman thanked Dr. Halbu for his address and said the days had passed when people could refuse to Face facts, and the world had suffered too long from ignorance and false modesty.

He welcomed any means

of instructing public opinion on this matter. It was not for him to say to what extent it would be possible for the Hongkong Government to adopt the recommendations of the Commis sion, but any practical measure for the improvement of the general health would be welcomed by the community and by the Chamber which he had the honour to represent on the Legislative Council. Mr. Holyoak concluded by asking the lecturer to express his views as to the segregation and examination of women of a certain class.

Dr. Hallam, in reply, said that most of the countries of Europe and America which had tried segregation had given it up as a failure. Jepen was often quoted in this connection, but to the present Commission the information had been volunteered that in Japan, 100, segregation had been proved a failure and was to be aban- doned. As a medical man, Dr. Hal- lam also gave ressons against the examination policy; it was unreliable owing to interent difficulties, and it was derogatory to the medical pro- fession.

This afternoon, at 5.30, a lecture on the subject, illustrated with cinema pictures, will be given at the City Hall. Another will be given on Mon- day afternoon.

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The China Mail, Tunuary 7the 1921.