MEDICAL CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 335, 23 October 1908, Page 7

MEDICAL CONGRESS.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. SOME FAR-REACHINC DECISIONS. HOSPITAL PATIENTS! (DT IELEGEArH—rBESS ASSOCIATION— COPItttOET.) < Pflslbourne, October 22. Tho Medical Congress carried a motion, to the. effect"That hospitals maintained by charitable donations, and Government grants should bo free to patients, and that patients should sign a declaration, that- they aro unable to afford medical attendance." It ivas also resolved:—"That no mfedical man should pass for admission'td a friendly society or association, for' professional attendance at contract rates, any person whose income from all sources" exceeds £4 per week; and that no medical man should attend at contract rates any member whoso income exceeds £6 a week." TUBERCULOSIS. (Rec. October 23, 1 a.m.) Melbourne,' October 22. At the Medical Congress',' Dr. ' Poultou. (South Australia) read a paper on surgery in tuberculosis. He statecLthat in six years, out of 1819 cases of tuberculosis in tiie Adelaide. hospitals, 42 per cent, suffered, .from lesions other than lesions of the lungs and throat j and of 4032 deaths in the. Common- ■ wealth, over 19 per cent. .were, larly. Dr. Benjamin Poulton, who since 1892 lias been.Lecturer;at the Adelaide ;TJniversity on the' Principles and Practice "of Surgery," was born at Geelong, Victoria, and graduated at the Melbourne' University. .'From' ISSI •to •18S5 he was resident'surgeon at the. Adelaide Hospital, and was honorary surgeon in connection with'that institution from 1686 to 1905. " „ Much has been heard lately of surgery for ;the treatment of consumption. It is claimed 'that by opening the cavities'of the lungs tliey can not only be drained, but local applications can readily be made. Formerly it was not considered feasible to cut into the lung'on account of the consequent bleoding. Advocates, of tho new' treatment claim that, bj". ( a certain method of cauterising, no appreciable bleeding takes place.'