FUNDS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 30, 5 February 1925, Page 7

FUNDS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH

A GOVERNMENT MATTER. -MEDICAL MEN' HANDICAPPED. POINTS FROM THE CONFERENCE. One of the most important results of last evening's meeting of the Auckland branch of the British Medical Association was that definite action was decided upon in regard to research work relative to infantile paralysis. A long discussion on various aspects of the present epidemic took place, quite a number of doctors giving their experience. It was pointed out thai, the public had taken up a somewhat erroneous attitude towards the medical profession in looking to doctors and specialists in ordinary practice to undertake research work. Tho average medical man in general practice, it was pointed out. has absolutely no time to go into the investigation uf the scientilic aspects of tiie disease. Ail that the bulk of them can do is to pursue their practice along already established lines. They are fully occupied in this way, and it is not merely a matter ot" pounds, shillings and pence. The family doctor has obligations to his patients, and these, obligations he must discharge. If the public only considered the facts they would realise that all the available time of the doctors and specialists is thus fully taken up. One well-known doctor, an official of the 8.M.A., upon whom a

"Star" representative waited this morning, had been out of bed till after 1 a.m., anil had been called out urgontly to two patients before breakfast. Such an experience is typical, for a doctor is liable lo be summoned at any hour of the day or night.

"Under these circumstances," slated the doctor, after reviewing tiie above facts to the pressman, "it is essential that special provision be made by tho Government for trained research workers to devote their whole time to tho elucidation of the problem. Only by this means can any information be gained. The doctors cannot accept the onus personally, individually or as a profession, unless we are given the facilities that are absolutely necessary. Experts Willing to Help. ''The public keep saying: Why don't you do something? We have indicated the only way in which anything can be done. New Zealand has got to begin research work in earnest if it is going to contribute its reasonable quota to the advances of medicine. The fact that so many workers in different parts of the world aro engaged on this particular problem—men of eminence—is no reason why we should not be able to help. Banting discovered insulin in his laboratory after the best brains had said it was impossible. There is no reason," repeated the doctor, "why New Zealand should not find the solution of this problem. We have the men and we have the brains, if only the Government will back us up with the finances.

"Anything that is going to be done has got to be done under some special arrangement. We can supply the brains. For example, tliere is in Australia at present one of the most brilliant research workers of the world doing mere routine work in one of the hospitals, l'ovmerly that particular expert was engaged in Vienna on post-war epidemics, but to-day-is engaged on a job of almost a humble nature. In New Zealand itself there are brilliant research workers available, but they have to earn their livelihood.

"The position is, therefore, that the men are here and the cases are here, and it remains for the Government to provide an opportunity for the investigations to begin. Last evening's conference passed a motion appreciating the work being done by the Public Health Department, but urging the Government to extend its efforts in this direction by providing an adequate fund to pursue bacteriological and experimental research by medical practitioners."

The Minister of Health (Sir Maui Pomare), who was present at the conference, said the Government recognised the seriousness of the disease, and he gave an undertaking that the resolution definitely had his support, and it would receive very favourable consideration at the hands of the Government. He pointed out that they were working not only to cope with the present epidemic, but with a view to dealing with any subsequent outbreaks.

Cases in January. The Health Department's report for the Auckland district during last month shows that there were 4(5 cases of infantile paralysis in the Central Auckland health district: 11 cases in the South Auckland health district: S in North Auckland health district, and three in f.'oromandel-Opotiki health district. The total in the whole area for January was, therefore, 68 cases. There were also IS cases of scarlet fever and _S cases of diphtheria.

One of the Department officials pointed out that children in the country districts appeared less able to combat infantile paralysis than Ihe children in the towns. Whether that was due to the fact that city children had by reason of their surroundings. developed a certain amount of resistance to the disease was not known. Another point was that when the disease spread into country areas it generally went along a line near the roads and railways, clearly indicating that the germs were being carried by travellers. This, be said, was one of the most important factors in the spread of infection. The carriers were often healthy people who were not suspected ; and very often abortive cases, also undetected, were responsible for the spread of the germ. Drastic steps in the direction of isolation had been tried in otlrer countries, but without results. In one case, where an outbreak occurred in a block of buildings in an American city, 200 doctors formed a cordon round the. area and everybody was quarantined, but without avail, for the disease eventually spread.