Venereal Diseases in New Zealand (1922) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 83 pages of information about Venereal Diseases in New Zealand (1922).

Venereal Diseases in New Zealand (1922) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 83 pages of information about Venereal Diseases in New Zealand (1922).

Case 1.—­A man—­young and married, a municipal employee in a city—­associated sexually with a female employee in an eating-house frequented by himself and co-employees.  In due time he sought the advice of the Medical Officer of Health for (what he suspected) severe syphilis.  Steps were taken to obtain his speedy admission to the local hospital.  The woman continued in her employment.

Case 2.—­A social-hygiene worker in her evidence said:  “I think the majority of cases I deal with (girls attending a hospital clinic) are caused through mental depravity, and in some instances you cannot convince them—­they continue to carry on.  I have tried all I know how to show them the dangers, but they just laugh at me.  I think it is really in many cases just a mental condition—­mental degeneration, possibly.”  This officer explained that even while actually attending the clinic some of these girls (affected with gonorrhoea), without any semblance of reserve or decency, would discuss arrangements for further intercourse with men, and on leaving the clinic (still in an infectious state) were even seen to go off with young men waiting for them.

Case 3.—­Asked if he knew of any cases where the disease had been contracted innocently, a medical practitioner stated in evidence:  “I know of a case where two girls in ——­ were infected (syphilis) on the lip through a young fellow handing them a cigarette which he was smoking.”

Case 4.—­A medical man in private practice, and Medical Superintendent of the hospital in a small country town, states:  “Although, judging from an experience of over fifteen years, this district would appear to be peculiarly free from any variety of venereal disease, I think it may be of interest to your Committee to know what happened here in the early part of 1918.  At that time there came to reside with her father in ——­, a township about nine miles south of ——­, a woman, ——­, who, shortly after her arrival consulted the late Dr. ——­, and was found to be the subject of secondary syphilis....  In all, three cases of gonorrhoea, four of soft chancre (three of whom suffered from phagadoemic ulceration which laid them up for weeks), and six cases of purely syphilitic infection came under my care, all traceable to this same woman.  As every case of gonorrhoea and soft chancre afterwards developed syphilis, ultimately I had thirteen cases of syphilis under my treatment alone.  Others, I have good reason to believe, went to other towns, and doubtless some failed to seek any kind of help....  Having prevailed upon the woman to come to my surgery ...  I told her that she was suffering from three varieties of venereal disease, which she was freely disseminating.  I then read to her that part of the Act which deals with those who “knowingly and wilfully disseminate venereal infection.”  That same afternoon she left for ——­, where she continued to ply her calling unhindered.  Who can estimate

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Venereal Diseases in New Zealand (1922) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.