CO129-472 - Others - 1921 — Page 475

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THE HEALTH COMMISSION.

PUBLIC MEETING.

The Health Commission now visiting! Singapore under the auspices of the N.C. V. D. brought a rather strenuous day's abours to a close at the Victoria Thestre ast evening, when they presented the film The End of the Road."

There was a large]

ind attentive audience,

Prior to the film being screened, Dr. Ru- ert Hallam delivered a short address in he course of which he dwelt on the question f veneral diseases and said that treatment uld only be obtained for the borer classés t

the expense of the hole community. It was better to treat ich cases in the early stages, those that ère in their hands, rather than they be me paralytics and die. He would like to ms out that the fim to be produced t evening was an American production! during the war was circulated all over States.

The film was then shown in six reels and full of interest from start to finish, idly showing the terrible effects of the lal evil.

A PUBLIC HEALTH

PROBLEM.

the visit of the National Council Com- sion to Singapore is a reason for focus- attention on the important health ques- of combating venereal diseases. The mation obtained by the British Royal mission supplemented as it has been he experience both medical and admi- ative, during the War has now put us the position to deal effectively with *problemt.

had not been generally realised before hat extent diseases, known by varied es, were all the later effects of un- ed syphilis or gonorrhoea, nor was it rally known to what extent these dis- affected posterity. We now realise question that touches the women aust be understood by every man and n. Syphilis is the principal cause of arriages and still-births; to gonorr- is due a very large proportion of the ity in both men and women. It is ated that 50 per cent. of that among a is due to gonorrhoea. The two dis- together are responsible for 58 per of congenital blindness; a quarter of he insane in the asylums of Great Bri- se suffering from the later stages of Es. Sir William Osler stated before yal Commission that in his opinion it the third killing disease.

ess in research and medicine have red both the germs which cause diseases and the method of treat- which will lead to their cure. The of the progressive Goverments of rld is now to make these modern me- of treatment as accessible as possible members of the community. We rea- w that syphilis and gonorrhoea are which affect all sections and grades community, not as was thought in days only one small group. Lack edge in the past has led to those tracted these diseases nemaining for long periods of time, and a danger to the community. One dvantages of the modem method ment is that it reduces the period vity.

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of the Report of the Royal Commission in 1916 agreed to provide facilities for the frec treatment of these diseases. Free cli- nics are now attached to all the principal hospitals in Great Britain and these are supplemented by additional and Auxiliary clinics. That, of course, only meets the need of the hospital using public. A very large proportion of the community seek the advice of their own medical attendant. Diagnostic tests needed to ascertain the presence of the diseases in their early stages, and later to ascertain that cure is completed are at present very costly items. Any but the well-to-do would therefore be precluded from the advantages of the modern method of treatment unless these facilities for free diagnosis and a free supply of the drugs needed for treatment were made available to the private practitioner. The British Government therefore agreed to supply all practitioners who were conver- sant with the modern methods of treatment with a free diagnosis service and with free drugs. Without in any way injuring the interests of the medical profession this h put the modern method of treatment within the reach of every man, woman and child who needs it. The Government at home find it impossible to make any class distinction In their scheme of treatment, and in the interests of the public health have set no limit to the supply of either of these services, except that the demand should be received from duly qualified medi- cal practitioners.

It is hoped therefore that the Colony will see it to adopt the same policy as the mother country, as the experience of the last 21 years has been distinctly encourag- ing In the clinics alone 175,000 fresh cases were dealt with during the first two years. ! One

realises that the problem here presents special difficulties, but we are con- vinced that with good will, determination and co-operation from the various races, and interests concerned, a practical solu- tion will be found. (Contributed),

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