Annual report of the Commissioner of Public Health / Queensland.

  • Queensland. Department of Public Health
Date:
[1913]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Commissioner of Public Health / Queensland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    101/102 (page 69)
    A fee of 2a. fid. will be paid for each complete notification. Regulations have been made prescribing the special form of notification to be used for the above purpose, together with other matters. A copy is attached for your information, and a book of notification forms will be forwarded shortly. It will be noted that the name and address of the notified patient are not to be disclosed, but that he shall be denoted by a number or other reference in or to the records of the medical practitioner. Notification is to be made to the Commissioner of Public Health only. The purpose of notification is to gain definite infor¬ mation concerning the prevalence in the community of specific venereal diseases in an actively infectious con¬ dition. Failing this knowledge, precise action cannot be taken against this class of disease. Upon the publication of an Order rendering venereal diseases notifiable persons, other than a medical prac- litioner or a person acting under the direct instructions of a medical practitioner, are forbidden (with certain specified and carefully limited exceptions), under heavy penalty, to attend upon or treat, within the area to which ths Order applies, any person suffering from such disease. In order to leave no reasonable basis for illegal exploitation of such sufferers, it is intended to institute a Dispensary for Enthetic Diseases, under the control of the Department, of Public Health, in connection with the Brisbane General Hospital, where free out-patient treatment can be obtained without unnecessary questions or inquiry. Arrangements will also be made for free in-patient treatment of a limited number of suitable cases. A circular of information to sufferers from venereal disease has been drawn up, and a copy is enclosed for your information. A further supply will be sent to you shortly, and real assistance will be given to the under¬ taking if you will be so good as to give a copy to any venereal sufferer who comes under your professional attention. It will be noted from perusal of the Regulations and the sections of the Health Acts which relate to venereal disease that very definite action may be initiated by the Commisisoner of Public Health, or by medical practitioners, for dealing with infective persons. Other measures are in process of organisation, including steps for the suppression of solicitation, of juvenile prostitution, and of the “bludger” class of human parasite. These, taken together, represent perhaps the most extensive attempt yet made in a British community to deal deliberately with venereal disease as a health problem. Success or failure will depend largely upon the co-operation afforded to the undertaking by the medical profession in Brisbane in respect of full and accurate notification. It is confidently anticipated, how¬ ever, that the profession will lend its active support to a measure which has for its object the reduction and control of this class of disease. Yours obediently, Commissioner of Public Health. f [Circular to Pharmacists, Brisbane Metropolitan Area.J Queensland. State Department of Public Health, Brisbane, 28th March, 1913. Enthetic (Venereal) Diseases. Sir,—I have the honour to inform you that the provisions of section 132a of “The Health Acts, 1900 to 1911,” have been applied by Order in Council to the following Areas:—The Cities of Brisbane and South Brisbane, the Towns of Hamilton, Ithaca, Toowong, Windsor, the Shire of Stephens, the Shire of Toombul, and so much of the Shire of Balmoral as lies to the west of Bulimba Creek, in respect of the venereal diseases hereunder named:— 1. Primary Syphilis. 2. Secondary Syphilis. 3. Gonorrhcea. Your attention is drawn to the ^following extract from the section in question which will apply in the areas abovementioned:— (3) No person other than a medical practitioner or a person acting under the direct instructions of a medical practitioner shall attend upon or treat any person suffering from such disease. Every person who contravenes this subsection shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds, or to imprisonment for any period not exceeding six months. This subsection shall not apply to a registered pharmaceutical chemist who dispenses to the patient of a medical practitioner the prescription of such medical practitioner, or to any pharmaceutical chemist who, under a permit in writing from the Commissioner (which permit the Commissioner is hereby empowered to grant), prescribes any medicine or drug for any person suffering from such disease, or to any person who, under a permit in writing from the Commissioner (which permit the Commissioner is hereby empowered to grant) sells any proprietary medicine or drug to any person suffering from such disease; provided always that such proprietary medicine or drug is approved of by the Commissioner. In order to afford relief to sufferers who for any reason of their own desire to avoid ordinary conditions of medical treatment, a Free Dispensary for Enthetic Diseases will shortly be opened in connection with the Brisbane General Hospital. Medical advice will there be available without charge for sufferers of either sex. No details are obligatory concerning the name, address, or other identificafory particulars of any person applying for treatment at the dispensary, and no charge will be made. A circular of information relating to venereal diseases has been drawn up for distribution to suitable cases. A copy is enclosed, and a further supply is avail¬ able on application to the Department of Public Health, or to the Pharmaceutical Society of Queensland. You will afford valuable assistance to the undertaking by distributing a copy of this circular to any sufferer from venereal disease with whom you may be brought in pro¬ fessional contact, and by advising him to seek medical treatment without delay. The present undertaking includes also a number of other measures designed to reduce the prevalence of venereal disease. These represent, perhaps, the most deliberately organised attempt yet made in a British community to control this class of disease on modern lines. The pharmaceutical profession can give valuable aid, and it is confidently anticipated that such aid will be forthcoming. * Yours obediently, Commissioner of Public Health. [Pamphlet for public information.'] DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, QUEENS¬ LAND, 1913. Venereal Diseases. Venereal disease is neither a crime nor a punish¬ ment. Those who are so unfortuna'te as to contract it must carefully avoid ail risk of infecting others. They should eudeavour, by obtaining and following proper medical advice, to regain their health. A person infected with any venereal disease should never trust his health to patent medicines or any adver¬ tised treatment. He should seek proper medical advice at once, and follow it. If not properly treated, venereal disease is very likely to lead to dangerous and painful illness, and perhaps to the death of the sufferer. Those who Tcnow- ingly infect others with any venereal disease are liable to punishment. Free treatment. Free treatment for either sex ean be obtained with¬ out any need to give name, address, or other details, and under conditions of complete secrecy, on personal application to the Government Dispensary for Enthetic Diseases, at the Out-patient Department of the General Hospital, Brisbane. A medical officer will be in attendance at the following times:— Monday, 5 to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, 5 to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 5 to 6 p.m.; Friday, 7 to 8 p.m.