Malaya branch of the British Medical Association had a conference on the instant, in the Municipal Council chamber with the Commissioners of the National Council for Combating Venereal Disease.
Malcolm Watson, president of the Malayan branch of the Association, presided over the gathering numbering 37, in his opening address welcomed the presence of the Commissioners and impressed on them the importance of venereal disease on the community at large.
Dr. Hallam put before the meeting the objects of the Commission, viz.:-Conference with the local authorities in the Eastern ports with regard to the best measures which might be undertaken to reduce the incidence of venereal disease. He reminded the members of the fact that the question of the provision of free diagnosis and treatment for the seafaring population of all nations was to be discussed at the conference of the health section of the League of Nations to be held at Geneva in February, 1921. Dr. Hallam then outlined the recommendations which have been approved by the National Council for Combating Venereal Disease, namely: the provision of free diagnosis, the provision of free treatment, early treatment centres, and a campaign of education of the general public. He pointed out that on matters of prophylaxis and prostitution, personal opinion and the opinion of the Society were in favour of early treatment rather than personal prophylaxis, and suppression rather than segregation. In support of these views, he quoted a letter by Colonel Harrison on the results of the experiences with prophylactic packets in Rhine Army and he also drew attention to Flexner's views on the subject. He pointed out that in all countries where a public health policy was adopted, very active measures were being taken to provide modern treatment for venereal diseases and also the segregation of prostitutes. He cited the fact that even in Japan, the public health department were in favour of suppressing brothels, and cited as an instance the improvement in one of the counties of Japan in which the law had been already enforced.
Dr. Hallam realised that the conditions in these Far Eastern ports differed considerably from those found in Europe, nevertheless he wished to impress on the members of the medical profession here that the views of many experts were opposed to recognised methods, and that these views were supported by many recorded facts which were worthy of the most profound consideration before coming to a final opinion. In conclusion, he asked for the approval of the members of the Association in giving approval to the proposals mentioned above.
Dr. Galloway in his reply gave full approval to the establishment of free diagnosis and free treatment, and although approving of a campaign of education of the general public in principle, he was of opinion that little could be done on that score in Singapore. He then proceeded to point out the great divergence which existed between the actuality as existing here and the commonly accepted ideals, which were held on this subject in civilised countries. He laid stress on the fact that the social and economical conditions in the Straits and F.M.S. were probably unique and that it was futile to attempt to apply methods based on evidence or experience gained in other countries to the conditions which obtained here. He urged that the only way by which any useful measure could be evolved to deal with the evil was by a careful study of the local conditions and, to that end, he moved the resolution:-"That this Association do memorialise the Government of the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States to cause full inquiry to be made as to (a) the prevalence of venereal disease, (b) the cause of that prevalence, (c) means of treatment, (d) means of prevention, and (e) the subject of prostitution generally."
Dr. Rattray, in seconding Dr. Galloway's proposal, stated that for the past year he had been making efforts to establish a kindred society in Malaya, viz., the S.P.V.D. These efforts had been crowned with success and his society is established here on a sound foundation. Dr. Rattray considered that his society went a necessary step further than the N.C.C.V.D., namely, in giving greater prominence to the value of disinfectants as a preventative of venereal disease.
Dr. Hoops joined the discussion and thought that the seafaring population should receive greater attention. He gave his experiences of the value of anti-venereal clinics which he had established in Kedah.
Dr. Hacker gave an account of his experiences with the Garrison in Singapore. He was in favour of early treatment.
In the subsequent discussion, Dr. Candrick, Dr. Glass, Dr. Dawson, and Dr. van Dort joined.
Dr. Hallam replied briefly and the proceedings were terminated by the unanimous adoption of Dr. Galloway's resolution.
The council and members of the Malaya branch of the British Medical Association entertained the Commissioners to dinner at the Europe Hotel at night. There were present:-Dr. Malcolm Watson (President, Malaya branch B.M.A.), Mrs. Rolfe, Miss Grant, Dr. Hallam (Commissioners of N.C.C.V.D.), Mr. Haynes (Secretary to the High Commissioner, Malay States), Mrs. Haynes, Dr. Hoops, Mr. and Mrs. Cavendish, Dr. and Mrs. Brooke, Dr. Lim Boon Keng, Dr. Hunter, Dr. Fry, Dr. and Mrs. Taylor, Dr. Dexter Allen, Dr. and Mrs. Black, Dr. and Mrs. Rattray, Dr. Stookes, Dr. Scharff (hon. sec. Malayan Branch, British Medical Association), Dr. Gray, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Leicester, Dr. Van Dort, Dr. Orahay, Dr. Conrad, Dr. Weerekoon, Dr. Murison, Dr. Gibbs, Dr. Hoahing, Dr. Glass, Dr. Webster, Dr. Fitzgerald, Dr. H. L. H. Lim, Dr. Lim Han Hoe, Dr. McGregor, Captain Hacker, Dr. Noel Clark, Mr. Quentzer, Dr. P. L. Loh, Dr. Jap, Dr. Sayers, Dr. Dawson, and Dr. Macalister.
281
VENEREAL DISEASE.
roposed Commission of Inquiry
For Malaya.
Malaya branch of the British Medi- Association had a conference on the inst., in the Municipal Council mer with the Commissioners of the Sonal Council for Combating Venereal
5.
Malcolm Watson, president of the un branch of the Association, pre- over & gathering numbering 37, in his opening address welcomed the nt of the Commissioners and impress- importance of venereal disease on community at large.
Hallam put before the meeting the of the Commission, via :-Con- with the local authorities in the Eastern ports with regard to the be measures which might be under- to reduce the incidence of venereal He reminded the members of Aviation that the question of the tes of free diagnosis and treatment! the seafaring population of all was to be discussed at the con- of the health section of the of Nations to be held at Geneva ebruary, 1921. Dr. Hallam then the recommendations which have approved by the National Council ombating Venereal Disease, namely the provision of free diagnosis, the provision of free treatment early treatment contres and
a campaign of education of eral public. He pointed out that ards prophylaxis and prostitution rsonal opinion and the opinion of Sety were in favour of early treat- ather than personal prophylaxis suppression rather than segrega In support of these he quoted a letter by Colonel Harrison on the of the experiences with prophylac- kets in Rhine Army and he also ttention to Flexner's views on the He pointed out that in all where a public health policy was by considered very active measures being taken to provide modern at for venereal diseases and also sh segregation of prostitute, He ed the fact that even in Japan
bli health department were
תו
of suppressing brothels, and cited stance the improvement in one of anties of Japan in which the!
bad been already enforced. th Dr. Hallam realised that the aners in these Far Eastern ports considerably from those found e, nevertheless he wished to im- the members of the medical pro- here that the views of many es were opposed to recognised Fon and that these views were by many recorded facts which rthy of the most profound con- before coming to a final opi- conclusion he asked for the of the members of the Son in giving approval to the
posals mentioned above.
486
I
Position in
Dr. Galloway in his reply gave fuil ap-i proval to the establishment of free diag- nosis and free treatment, and although approving of a campaign of education of the general public in principal he was of opinion that little could be done on that score in Singapore. He then proceeded to point out the great divergence which existed between the actuality as existing here and the commonly accepted ideals. which were held on this subject in civi-¡ lised countries. He laid stress on fact that the social and economical condi- the tions in the Straits and F.M.S. were pro- bably unique and that it was futile to attempt to apply methods based on evi- tence or experience gained in other! countries to the conditions which obtainedj here. He urged that the only way by which any useful Measure evolved to deal with the evil was by a could be careful study of the local conditions and, to that end, he moved the resolation :-"That this Association mé
following morialise the Government of the Straits) Settlements and Federated Malay States to cause full inquiry to be made as to (a) the prevalence of venereal disease, (b) the cause of
that (c) means of treatment, (d) means of prevalence, prevention, and (e) the subject of prosti- Tation generally."
Dr Rattray, in seconding Dr. Gallo- way's proposal, stated that for the past year he had been making efforts establish a kindred society in Malaya, to viz., the S.P.V.D. These efforts had been crowned with success and his society is established here on a Bound foundation. Dr. Rattray considered that his society went a necessary step further than the N.C.C.V.D., namely, in giving greater promi-| nence to the value of disinfectants as a preventative of venereal disease.
Dr. Hoops joined the discussion and thought that the seafaring population should receive greater attention. He gave his experiences of the value anti-venereal clinics which he had estab-
of lished in Kerlah.
Dr. Hacker gave an account of his ex- periences with the Garrison in Singapore. He was in favour of early treatment.
In the subsequent discussion, Dr. Can- drick, Dr. Glass, Dr. Dawson and Dr. van Dort joined.
Dr. Hallam replied briefly and the pro- ceedings were terminated by the unani- mous adoption of Dr. Galloway's resolu- tion
The council and members of the Malaya branch of the British Medical Association entertained the Commission- ers to dinner at the Europe Hotel at night. There were present:-Dr. Mal- colm Watson (President, Malaya branch B.M.A.), Mrs. Rolfe, Miss Grant,
the
: Dr. Hallam (Commissioners of
N.C.C.V.D.), Mr Haynes (Secretary to the High Commissioner, Malay States), Mrs. Haynes, Dr. Hoops, Mr. and Mrs. Cavendish, Dr. and Mrs. Brooke, the! Hen Dr. Lim Boon Keng, Dr Hunter, Dr. Fry, Dr. and Mrs. Taylor, Dr. Dexter Allen, Dr. and Mrs. Black, Dr. and Mrs. Rattray, Dr Stookes, Dr. Scharff (hon. sec. Malayan Branch, British Medical Association), Dr. Gray, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Leicester, Dr. Van Dort, Dr. Orahay, Dr. Conrad, Dr. Weerekoon, Dr. Murison, Dr. Gibbs, Dr. Hoahing, Dr. Glass, Dr. Web- ster, Dr. Fitzgerald, Dr. H. L. H Lim, Dr. Lim Han Hoe, Dr. McGregor, Cap- tain Hacker, Dr. Noel Clark, Mr. Quent- zer, Dr. P. L. Loh, Dr. Jap, Dr. Sayers, Dr Dawson and Dr. Macalister.
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