Fourth report on the operation of the Contagious Diseases Acts : with comments on the report of the Royal Commission and extracts from the published evidence with appendix / Association for Promoting the Extension of the Contagious Diseases Acts.

Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Fourth report on the operation of the Contagious Diseases Acts : with comments on the report of the Royal Commission and extracts from the published evidence with appendix / Association for Promoting the Extension of the Contagious Diseases Acts. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Recommendation to abolish periodical examination. legislation about to be proposed by Her Majesty^ Government, and entertain the earnest hope that Parliament, undeterred by clamour, however loud, which is not founded on reason, may enact such measures as shall tend to mitigate, if not to eradi¬ cate, a disease the curse of mankind, and which shall alike promote the moral and physical welfare of our people. Proposal to Abolish the Periodical Examination AND TO RETURN TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE ACT OF 1864. The most important recommendations made by the Royal Commission are: 1. 44 That the periodical examination of public 44 women be discontinued.’’ 2. 44 That every common prostitute found to be 44 diseased after an examination by a Medical Officer, 44 on a voluntary submission or upon a magistrate’s 44 order, shall be detained in a certified hospital until 44 she is discharged by a magistrate’s order, or by 44 the authorities of such hospital: provided that 44 such detention shall, in no case, exceed the period 44 of three months.” These recommendations have been made appa¬ rently not without some reluctance, for the Commis¬ sioners had previously expressed themselves 44 satis- 44 fied from the evidence, that the frequent examina- 44 tion of women is the most efficacious means of 44 controlling the disease,” but, granting this, they think it 44 becomes a grave question whether the 44 system” could be maintained in the face of objec- 44 tions which, on moral grounds, have been raised 44 against it.” Should the modifications recommended by the Commissioners be adopted, women will when diseased, be admitted into the Government hospitals in two
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