Dr. F. W. Gunz Returns From Study Tour Abroad

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29378, 3 December 1960, Page 15

Dr. F. W. Gunz Returns From Study Tour Abroad

In three months’ overseas travel, in Australia, Japan. India, the United Kingdom, and the United S.ates, Dr. F. W. Gunz, who is in charge of the diagnosis of blood disorders and blood transfusion services at Christchurch Hospital, has seen no pathplogy department finer than mat at Princess Margaret Hospital. This includes the United States, where there is an extraordinary complexity and lavishness in hospital services and treatment. according to Dr. Gunz. “It is becoming so expensive that American people just can’t afford to be ill.’’ he said. | Dr. Gunz has just returned to Christchurch after his study trip abroad, made possible by a grant I from several medical organisations, including the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society. While away, he attended several conferences on the medicine of blood, and on cancer, and met all the leading doctors in his specialised field. At the conference, he

. heard hundreds of papers read, > and gave some himself. i His trip, in general, enabled s him to examine the most recent 1 trends in the diagnosis and treati ment of blood d.sorders. "I have . found that nothing really new has t been developed over the last few’ ■ years, apart from one thing—which has no immediate applica- . tion to treatments.” he said. “Th»is ' one thing, which may have some ■ consequence, is the discovery of ■ a new hormone which seems to - regulate the production of red ■ blood cells. It is more of ‘ theoretical interest at the moment. but it may have future applica- . > tion in treating certain anaemias." • > On blood transfusion work. Dr. t Gunz said that research in the ■ United States had shown it was - possible to preserve blood for . several years. “It is an exception- , I ally expensive process, so that-it • f can only be used on a research I scale at present.” he said. This research work had been » canned out by an American Navy . team at Boston. They had shown that a man having to undergo a future operation could “donate” or deposit some of his blood in a blood bank, and draw upon it after his operation by retransfusions to his own body. Dr. Gunz has seen hospitals and their pathology departments throughout the five countries he has visited. “I saw a lot of hospitals and a lot of pathology departments. but I saw no pathology ( department finer than that at Princess Margaret Hospital. I can really say that.” Dr. Gunz said. The new All-India Institute of Medical Science, at Delhi, which was begun with a grant of £lm from New Zealand under the Colombo Plan, was most impressive. Dr. Gunz said. “It has fine buildings, beautifully equipped. It was really an exciting place for a doctor to visit,” he said. The actual hospital building for the institute has not yet been built, and the nurses’ home is being used as the hospital building in the meantime. Dr. Gunz said. “When it is all completed, the institute is going to be a firstclass place.” he said.