THE MEDICAL CONFERENCE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 56, 6 March 1903, Page 5

THE MEDICAL CONFERENCE

IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS

TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS

AUCKLAND AND THE HEALTH OFFICIALS.

(By Telegraph.-— Press Association.)

N'KLSON. this day

At the annual conference of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association the following resolutions were passed: — (l)" That this meeting respectfully urges the Government to place all institutions connected with the treatment of mental and bodily diseases under one department, and to make provision for advanced cases of tuberculosis, by erecting annexes to our present hospitals.." (2) "That this meeting wishes to draw the attention of the Government to the need of better ventilation on steamers and railway carriages, and they would suggest that, regulations against overcrowding be strictly carried out."

"That, in the opinion of this meeting, Government should compel notification by the owner of all cases of diseases, and of mammary gland in cows, the milk of which is used for human consumption.''

"That this meeting strongly deprecates the attack which has been made upon the Chief Health Officer and his assistants in Auckland, while attempting to carry out the duties devolving upon them under the Public Health Act."

The attention of the conference having been directed to the public-ation in various newspapers of the colony of a paragraph setting forth the astounding information that scarlet fever is not infectious during the state of desquamation (peeling), if wa.s unanimously resolved. "That, in the interests of the public health the paragraph should be publicly contradicted, as evidence is conclusive that scarlet fever is infectious during the whole course of the disease in the peeling period."

A recent; .tatement by Dr Koch that in his opinion bovine tuberculosis was not transmissible to the human being wa.s held to have been amply disproved by all the mo-t eminent authorities. Numerous instances were given by tlie medical practitioners present of cases in which the disease had developed apparently from the drinking milk of tubercular cows, the sufferers in some instances dying after a very short illness.

The system of inspection of cattle and dairies which had been inaugurated by the Government would, if. was hoped, be. extended and made more regular. Animals proved to lie diseased should, it was urged, be immediately slaughtered, and, until it was possible to establish more regular and more frequent, inspection of the dairies, if there was the slightest doubt of the purity of the milk, it should be scalded. The next annual meeting is to be held at Wellington. The election of officers resulted: — President. Dr W. E. Collins (Wellington): editor of journal. Dr Mason (Wellington) : secretary. Mr IT. M. G-ore (Wellington).