CONFERENCE OF SURGEONS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20956, 9 September 1933, Page 14

CONFERENCE OF SURGEONS

ANNUAL MEETING CONCLUDED DISCUSSIONS ON MODERN DISCOVERIES The presentation by various speakers of the modern discoveries in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of certain diseases in the lung and the bladder formed probably the most important part of the business at the annual conference of the New Zealand section of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons yesterday. Consideration was given also to questions on such subjects as the raising of the standard of efficiency in hospitals and ' the providing of opportunities for j young surgeons to obtain the neces- : sary training and experience to fit them for the responsibilities of surgi- 1 cal practice. j The annual meeting, which concluded yesterday, was considered by ' the representative surgeons from all ! parts of the Dominion who attended , it, to be the most successful the col- 4 lege had yet held. ' Methods Revolutionised. , "The technical side in the form of , addresses, discussions, and demonstra- ] tions of clinical and pathological work ; was of a very high standard," the , chairman, Sir Louis Barnett, said after ' the meeting, "and without doubt ' everyone who attended the meetings ; must have learned something new that will prove useful and stimulating to him in his practice. In par- ' ticular, the presentation by various i speakers of the modern discoveries in ] the diagnosis and surgical treatment ■ of certain diseases in the lung and in : the bladder must result in very de- . finite benefit to the victims of these diseases, and, indeed be the means not only of bringing about a more speedy cure, but actually in some cases saving , lives which without the knowledge referred to would be -doomed to cer- ; tain death. The recent advances in : the treatment of these troubles have indeed revolutionised the older method. The treatment of cancer—particularly by radium and X-rays—-also came in for intensive study, and a large number of cases were demonstrated showing gratifying results from radiation treatment. . "Careful consideration was given to many questions dealing with such subjects as the raising of the standards of efficiency in hospitals, and the providing of opportunities for younger surgeons to obtain the necessary training and experience to fit them for the serious responsibilities of surgical practice." Election of Officers. At the business meeting it was announced that Sir Louis Barnett was re-elected chairman, Sir Donald McGavin honorary secretary, and Mr Hugh Acland, Sir Carnck Robertson, Professor Gordon Bell, Mr D. S. Wylie and Mr T. D. M. Stout members of the executive committee. The next annual meeting of the New Zealand section will be held at Dunedin in September, 1934, andl it. .s hoped that the Australasian College as a whole will accept the invitation that is to be forwarded to meet at 1 Sere passed expressing nratUude to Mr H. £ Otley, chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital wn-ird to Dr W. Fox, and to the lady Smeiinendent Miss Muir, for their kndness hi arranging for accommodation and the other facilities in connexion whh the meeting. The visitos were given the opportunity of insnecthS the new nurses' home, and were very favourably impressed both with the architecture and the internal arrangement and organisation of the building. _