Venereal Diseases in New Zealand (1922) | Page 4

but upon the health and well-being of the community as a
whole. This ignorance of the nature of the problem and of the grave
issues involved naturally stands in the way of the evil being grappled
with effectually. Furthermore, the policy of reticence which has
prevailed in the past, while it has led to the omission of proper
instruction of the young, either by their parents or as part of our system
of education, has not prevented the dissemination of an incomplete or
perverted knowledge of the facts relating to sex, which, being derived
as a rule from tainted sources of information, has been productive of a
great deal of evil.
In these circumstances the Committee feel it their duty, before making
known their recommendations, to state in as plain terms as possible the
medical aspects of the problem they have had to consider.
There are three forms of venereal diseases namely, syphilis, gonorrhoea,
and chancroid--and of these the first two are the common and most
serious diseases. That sporadic syphilis existed in antiquity and even in
prehistoric times is probable, but there is no doubt that the disease was
a malignant European pandemic in the closing years of the fifteenth
century. The first reference to its origin is in a work written about the
year 1510, wherein it is described as a new affection in Barcelona,
unheard of until brought from Hayti by the sailors of Columbus in 1493.
The army of Charles VIII carried the scourge through Italy, and soon
Europe was aflame. "Its enormous prevalence in modern times," says
Dr. Creighton, "dates, without doubt, from the European libertinism of
the latter part of the fifteenth century." Gonorrhoea also has its origin in
the shades of antiquity, but that it became common in Europe about
1520 is a fact based on the highest authority.
Syphilization follows civilization, and syphilis is an important factor in
the extermination of aboriginal races. Syphilis was introduced into
Uganda when that country was opened to trade with the coast, and
Colonel Lambkin reported that "In some districts 90 per cent. suffer
from it.... Owing to the presence of syphilis the entire population stands
a good chance of being exterminated in a very few years, or left a

degenerate race fit for nothing." The earliest known account of the
introduction of syphilis into the Maori race is in an old Maori song
composed in the far North. The Maori population in a village on the
shores of Tom Bowline's Bay was employed in a whaling-station on the
Three Kings Islands, and there they became infected and carried the
disease to the mainland. Venereal disease is not common now among
the Maoris, but it made great ravages in the early days of colonization,
to which may be attributed much of the sterility and repeated
miscarriages in the transitional period of Maori history.
Through the ages great confusion existed as to the origin and nature of
venereal disease, but in 1905 a micro-organism, the Spironema
pallidum, was demonstrated as the infective agent in syphilis, and the
gonococcus as the infecting organism of gonorrhoea had been
discovered in 1879. As regards modes of infection, syphilis is
contracted usually by sexual congress; occasionally the mode of
infection is accidental and innocent, and congenital transmission is not
uncommon. Gonorrhoea is contracted by sexual congress as a rule, but
occasionally from innocent contact with discharges, as in lavatories.
Syphilis, therefore, is a markedly contagious and inoculable disease. It
gains entrance, and usually in three weeks (although this period may be
much shorter) a slight sore appears at the site of infection. It may be so
slight as to pass unnoticed. This is the primary stage of syphilis. Later,
often after two months, the secondary stage begins, and if not properly
treated may last for two years. The patient is not too ill usually to
attend to his avocation, and has severe headache, skin rashes, loss of
hair, inflammation of the eyes, or other varied symptoms. The tertiary
stage may be early or delayed, and its effects are serious. Masses of
cells of low vitality, known as "gummata," with a tendency to break
down or ulcerate, may form in almost any part of the body, and the
damage that occurs is considerable indeed. Various diseases result
which the lay mind would not associate with syphilis, but it would be
difficult to overestimate the resultant diseases that may occur in any
organ of the body:--
This racks the joints; this fires the veins: That every labouring sinew

strains; Those in the deeper vitals rage.
Many deaths ascribed to other causes are the direct consequence of
syphilis. It cuts off life at its source, being a frequent cause of abortion
and early death of infants. It slays those who otherwise would be strong
and vigorous,