SURGEONS MEET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23479, 17 October 1939, Page 4

SURGEONS MEET

HONOLULU CONGRESS MODERN WORK DESCRIBED NEW ZEALAND DELEGATES * Distinguisliecl specialists and research workers of four nationalities discussed modern developments in their work at the Pan Pacific Surgical Congress which was recently held at Honolulu. Most of the 150 delegates came from the United States, but there were also Chinese and Japanese representatives, and two New Zealanders, Mr. J. Hardie Neil,, of Auckland, and Professor J. B. Dawson, of Otago University College, were present. Mr. Hardie Neil, who has now re-

turned to the Dominion, said yesterday that several outstanding authorities including Dr. George Crile, had rU tended the congress, which had proved notable for the excellence of the. continuous sessions of coloured films of surgical operations. Subjects of tho <

greatest importance had been graphically and accurately presented in this way. Advances in Lung Surgery "The recent rapid advances in lung surgery had some internationally-known exponents," Mr. Hardie Neil stated. "Their demonstrations showed that partial or complete lung removal ig being commonly performed in suitable cases with little mortality. "It was also shown that tuberculosis in Hawaii has been markedly .and steadily decreasing as a result of the activities of a department of public health. Compulsory notification, the segregation of all open or infected cases in sanatoria and close surveillance and periodical X-ray examinations have reduced the mortality among the native population by more than 50 per cent," Infantile Paralysis Oases

Mr. Hardie Neil mentioned that sa orthopedic surgeon had expressed the opinion to the congress that in infantile paralysis cases the paralysis most fre« quently occurred in patients where .prolonged rest was not enforced at the commencement of the initial fever. He had shown that adequate medical supervision was a valuable safeguard in these cases.

Mr. Hardie Neil added that Dr. F. JReichert, a well-known nerve surgeon,, of Stanford University, San Francisco, was the incoming presideut, while Professor Dawson and Mr. Hugh I'oate, of Sydney, were the first and second ricepresidents respectively. The next congress was to be hold in Honolulu, in 1942.

Lavish hospitality was extended to the visiting delegates, who were warmly welcomed to Honolulu's finest .homes with their magnificent trees and flowers. Many entertainments had been arranged for the representatives from overseas <