KNIFE,AND SCALPEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 251, 22 October 1924, Page 5

KNIFE,AND SCALPEL.

THE NEW YORK CONGRESS. AUSTRALIANS APPLAUDED. MARVELLOUS SURGERY. (Received 10.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, October 21. Dr. Royle's (Sydney) address on spastic paralysis, delivered before a great group of medical men, besides college surgeons, was impressively received, the audience breaking into applause. Upon viewing motion picture showing clear movements in patients who before the operation walked with extreme difficulty or were unable to walk at all, Dr. Koyle traced the history of his and Dr. Hunter's experiments on animals, which indicated that removal of the sympathetic nerve would not affect normal muscular control or nutrition. Operations on humans showed development of the same technique, seven distinct improvements resulting, two notable ones being improvement in muscular control and improvement in balance.

Dr. Koyle cautioned against expecting too much, as operation would not improve all cases of spastic paralysis, and the greatest care must be exercised in selecting suitable or appropriate patients. Some types of Little's disease could improve, and a certain amount of disability following on spastic paralysis from gfiunshot wounds could be alleviated, but patients who could not walk before could not be expected immediately to walk, even where the operation was successful, re-education being required. Dr. Hunter followed with a dissertation chiefly on muscle and the nerve physiology underlying. Dr. Royle's experiments were heard with the greatest interest it being nearly midnight before the gathering dispersed. (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

W.Z. SURGEON'S LECTURE. GROWTH OF HOSPITAL SYSTEM <Bj- Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) NEW YORK, October 21. I The 14th annual Congress of the American College of Surgeons opened yesterday. Sir LinSo Ferguson (Dunedin, New Zealand) outlined the history of the University Hospital, Dunedin. He indicated its striking growth and efficiency, and said the hospital to-day had received the approval of the Hospital Standardisation Committee of the Coli lege of Surgeons. Sir Lindo commented on the fact that the Dunedin Hospital staff, unlike American University hos- , pitals, was not appointed by the university, but by the hospital trustees. He urged the desirability of adopting the American practice. Dr. J. S. Elliott (Wellington) indicated the manner in which New Zealand hospitals receive Government support. He said the responsibility which the hospital boards had to the ratepayers acted as a check on their expenditure. The framework of the New Zealand hospital system was too complicated for the needs of the country, said Dr. Elliott,and many hospital districts could not justify their existence. Attempts at amalgamation had so far failed because of local sentiment and political interference. The financing of hospitals by local rates and Government subsidy was a good system in New Zealand, added the speaker, but much more should be done to encourage free-will offerings.—(A. and N.Z. Cable )