SKIN CANCER.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19732, 24 September 1929, Page 10

SKIN CANCER.

PREVALENCE IN AUSTRALIA PROBLEM DISCUSSED BY MEDICAL CONGRESS. [tn mu tyselal SttTiM.] AUCKLAND, September 98. Ilia New Zealand doctors who returned by the Aorangi from til# Australian and New Zealand Medical Congress in Melbourne spoke in enthusiastio term* of the result* achieved. "Some very excellent work wia done, especially in regard to cancer and maternal mortality, and ire have all returned with benefit from the experience," remarked Dr. E. H. William*, of Dunedin. There was an attendance of 1200, compared with 800 who attended the last Congress held in Dunedin three years ago, and about 40 New Zealand doctors were present during the deliberations. The inroads of skin cancer, which is more prevalent in Australia and New Zealand than in any other countries in the world—a phenomenon doe to the exposure of strong sunlight en European akins—formed an interesting topic in the section on dermatology. Dr. H, W. Wilson, skin specialist, of Auckland, who sat in this section, expressed surprise on his return at the widespread character of this disease in Australia. Blueeyed fair-haired people, especially the fair-haired Irish, were particularly prone to the complaint, and the most vital spot was the tip of the nose, which seemed to catch the sun's rays when the rest of the face was shaded by the hat. "There is a colossal amount of skin cancer and degenerative'changes in the skin in Australia," he said, "and I suppose there are more cases of it in Sydney than anywhere else in the world. It is peculiar to people of European extraction and there is a good deal of it in New Zealand.*' Sun-bath-ing, he added, was not dangerous unless carried to excess. Skin cancer usually attacked the face which suffered from sun exnosure more thnn any other part of the body. The disease was treated by a variety of means according to type and severity. Diseases of children an irasection of the Coneress, and interesting reports were received on results of research experiment* with serum for treatment of infantile paralysis. Dr W S Wallis. of Rotoroa. who was attached to the orthowaedio Miction stated on h'« return that the work accomplished had been very informative.