MEDICAL CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 748, 22 February 1910, Page 6

MEDICAL CONGRESS.

! >: ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT, :., />;'''::' , -^ i :-:NATION'S.-HHALm'-' ; -''.,' I ■/SOM^-iMPOE^ANTrQTOiSTIbN.S.:;". -Doctors from'all parts of .the Dominion, with:.' their wives' 'and ■Tfrie'iids, : were' present at. the openiDgi meeting , , of tho Annual". Conference of th'.q.jßrijtisli Medical 'Association (New Zealand;, branch) held in the-ilasohio HaU.last evening. ..'-.'. : ; ; J pfV : Mbore,V the i;etjringpresident, welcomed the, ; ,anjl"read.: apologies ;for^ : ubsence; from 'itne'.il'rimo '.Minister, tHe'.Hon/fl:Brid'd6i , andTb|;lker's.^;He i tHen' 'myitea-:'t^jney-: ? chafc vV:.;v .-.'vi '■ '.--■-',. v"*^'S-■ '^''~ V ' ;; : f ,;;WDB.-\RURpy'S TMDDRESS. s;' /' I'' The' preside'nt^lDftt; Purdy, ■ of •' Lower' Hutt), in his inapgpraj,, address,.returned thanks.,.'for_ his^"el6feti'pn,"'|an'd,' gave .a hearty. welcoin'i "to': ;ffie L, yisit6rs : ;-,: The. con-. fer^^ ! : attended., of any,yet', heldynlthe -.Dominion. , . -Whilst •■•New ''Zealand;' was top' youngvtp'.have ■■tle'veloped- aNoistinet ..type, it''was':already : ''a , mitter' : of 'ordinary servatioii that-'such' was-';being gradpallyovolyed...; As.iji..native races,. Maoriland had'-evolved' the highest .typo of isaya'Re,. so enthnsiasts,';hoped,;that .it'would'develop '.the highest' type, of the':Anglo-Saxon; variety'/ ,;If vprowess , in -the field,-both ; of war. and of sport, counted for much, the; present- type 'of -"-youhg-' -New; Zealnders. .bade.'.fair,to,realise the fippo. : .- ■/'.";',;:■ ':'■ ;, One- important'; 'rearing of ■;avhealthy,-] l ation' was ;;the; possessionof/a. well' qualified,,- well' , trained, >,and' conscientious .'..medical V. profession; "'•-.Hβ' wished, to three' : ,had ; .-'i«siden6e" s in''-New\-Zealand :a£fected the_. peoplO{ y thei,medical professibnj' ..and' their;-feldtibns.'tKe'.,6ne. to.,!the. bther. In dealing.i;wifh'- A the;-firsf;.questiori..it:'.was a cause-;.of. difficulty;that, there hras no , past.':;standard.\>rith, f wiioh'-the, present peopla'.'-'cbuld'/'be' epiripared.',' ' Anthropo- ■ metric, data , '-.published: by! the 'Health De-. partnient showed, however,-that whilst the; average,--stature i; at ages,"of .--llr to. 12 of: bp'ys, in. the. public -schools >in" England.vin fß3'.was': 54;98 .inches." that/of, the'cadets of the Auckland'sohobls' and JQng's 7 Cbllegß'was ; 's6 ! inchesv'at the ■same . age; "'vCoßtrasiirig. thevhefghts. of .boys 'at ' Jiaflbpfpiigh CoJlegeV'England, with- those of. jEng'e'v. College,-vAuckland;'. nnd : - Wa-. nganuis..Cellege,vit. wasVfoundv that ;tweon\the;.ygarsi'of.,U ;and 15' the' figures ■ were'• 61.W inches for-'the'-Englieh-sohool' arid '63;'.iinches5:.for.';,the■■;;•New,.-Zealand .sohpbllV.TMe, interesting;.work of:'. anthro- ,, .pbinetry^might, be.'.'extended'"as .the' infor- , :matron..was 'of.;great.'interest: and some lutility.;j,;Advantage ..might.'.be'.'taken; in (examining eadeta, and ■those .who-under- ' went military-, training; - to" get. extensive 'and;reliable data; which'"could .be"comipared with,.figures■'availaljle 'from' other i'epuntries. .Vwhile: also' , to'.' impose. ■an>!anthrbpbmetfiosi'test '.. for; aliens, • to : . prevent ;'the admission . to' the Dominion..' -~ of > people'' '.with , ■' 'degenerate V.,^'; , :.' , ;, l -i-v^ ; ;r M.'^: ..V-"-'-:-:,

■"",'i'; -Medical I :lnspection of iSchools;;:i s;-.-There, iwas;stili;;a percentage'of'cjiildren; in .New "Zealand requiring -medical attention r they; .were ::• physically capable ,of .in : .'schools. , '''ln':inaugurating- : medical 'hind.,, .Iα: the Britalns -the seas-iTa^ania'.Jmdj.-lieeniithi/ifl^.-to.vinitiate, .and I'carry^outrmedical': examihatidn, : 'had been-followed ;by.iSbuth--tod Western Australia.'.; Medical ..inspection -Vo£ •' schobl children'-must *be; 'fpllpwed>;by- treatment as '-.the' natural.:. corbll'ary..;bf. disease .; or defect. ;iAt : first;, a" thprough/ medical; in.'spectibn:'of .-schools'would mean "increased ; ,work,for, the■ niedical:profession,'but'af-i less :-wqrk from' year^to-year^particjllaTl^for^he'dentists , .' \ The'teaching '.■ bf-'hygiene^arid'temper-ance .should . It ; would..;be;. necessary 'for the Vdobtor first .tOi.teabh;..the Vof; hygiene.Vand'■pra.cticairjitb;iQbvelbp a 'dif■ferent .point' of view'as regards the aims - ; of.. education; ,, makings the-first-requisite 3to| health:i /rheJischodK.was'"'really: :'the nursery of the" nationV-f'.Chirdreii: betweea , and 18 niimbered, about,;a. quarter'of . the ..population."' Ai' : preliminary.rtraining' ■&■:■;'■■ children in', elementary': habits of 'cleanliness ,cpuld,..be..giyen,,.in. Knderg'ar'•tens.,. It, was';really "more-lisefub for.-'. a •child;tolearn;:,tp;breatKb. «frrectly .than to; learn, the. names : pf'-the capes' of; New .Zealand or :itep"6f g'eogTaphy.'

'_: :|;.';.' "i -rTeachingi>f"Samfallom .^'',:'f 2: ; : ..' Seeing f ,-if : : : nbtvalli ; 'of.'the . other;- Britiah -, i States, ; -J&Alz. established' Tiranchesiof • Inistitute, .rsuch Tα^ branch.^or. should .ibe ; .representedv in:-N.e'T:Zealand.T ,The'grant■:ihg/"of i certificates .for ■: proficiency in , 'hygiene a'fitimulu^.tb-students' .to.,.specialise "ani—scnool "hygiene.:: 'Every )\pp years ;might. be. and ? 'papers doctors,' architects,, engineers, etc. -From: ■these,,, .valuable- information-- should: be diss_emipated,.;and; , if;.'at : the''same time, an exhibitionipf sanitary '.appliances -was ar- | ranged it woujd. b'eiavuseful'object'lesson ito". the, public; t, :".'■!.::::*£;'. ; .•';;'.•,...:.. - ,^t"-dight;^^aavisab'ie,.mj)r.;: :; l ) nrdy' ;thought,-. to raiseithbj :schooU.afe,.ut6 'sevenV'jears'.oiVHe-Jcom-' -mended;this' to'■. the Education;■'/Depart--ment as - a means'-of ■■ : saving ;i : the ■ cost- of j'acpommodation .^or,-'infants,;! .thus 'having itifldsr.to'proViderfor: open air'of simple ;'tindergarte'n's; : 'especially Merger 'centreSi,-;Ninety-sis..to 97.-per:cent, of the ;weight pf Jithe .brain'-.^as:.gained by. the' ,ageof seven... Before its chief duty, function'afterwards'. Chil- ■ «ren -'who :.commenced,; school ?. life later :jhan the -average,:' other ;v tliings ■ 'being equal, speedily:■ caught"up 'with ihe others. ' He thought;there.»was-;a great future for kindergartens, both' free and otherwise

:':\i'' : ;:;';;Doctor^as;ScHdoi*AdyfsßK-' ;i ;./';. ! : : ;There;was'a'sfiirtiier--function for : the .school doctor;',besides , .'tlie-vstrictly'medi-' ;cal part T -of : his woilii-';.He-.should-super- : at :ds';t6, the'. - school 'general.:-inel;hbds,';more esMtially:.' Mri .^.fhe;; : '-"juiiior ■: I'.iclasses. :.There ■ snoula a cprreot; proportion of .recreation: and physical.'; exercise "'between .the hours.'of - mental stress; , ' , -Host authorities laid-it down"- that .there -should be' a^^'.quarter;' of: :"an:,h'mir's','rest'.'after.' , every hpuivpf teocHing, and''ii'.wds.."generally agreed-that-fiye. hours' should.bean routside. limit-fori;schola'stip;.wprk. work , , was-necessary, he-would make the purely, sch'olastici/hpufs ■ four, in number, hour' : to,preparation.' Better- : judgment .--.was 'required/ , !!! .the,'-: choice iOt? ' pens," paper;;'ink,', blacbbbards;. ■■ 'and 1 other. school /accessories, which/.Vwere'vdf great .importance.'.;-' Special' attention ■ should -be -paid to the properi'desk.- , accommodation and to'lighting; .The : light should come from, the:.trip; or .the left-hand : .side, and no:' scholar".should ever 'face the light.: ''Time for; physical exercise .should be' deductediroai , the hours,,not'added , : to .them; ''• Compulsory tfairiing : under'■ the' lie'fr--Defence;.':Act -' should ' work;'''Brea;t' changes, for-good'.in'the;welfare :6fvthe youth of; the nation.;.;'.Thp.'p.urely military, part 'of ; the "present :cadet system imight'.-be .left.-until ;a' later lager ;and-atJschpolgorily -physical , ;: exercises training; the body, to"; endurance and the mind tp habits of 'discipline be .in;/ V,:K : '';-Q: :.','' , ' 'j".- - ':;'■. ..r'- ; '-'' .-■- ■ '■'■; ; i Probable/Developments. .-■■ ■■■•'■ ;■■-

:SA. State-'medical;-.'service-' would :-'nh'doubtedly/gradually'.be, evolved,..but 1 . , at present ,it wasvnot/within the,scope ofpractical politics. What might bo done," however, /.was ';:■ to :;gradually.. introduco medical,':: inspection ".-.and/; treatment .: of scliopl.children,' and health visitors,, trained;- nurses"(subsidised), and also V;provident ""dispensaries."'.. Perhaps, when ' insurance', and superannuation" be-.' 'came : compulsory, tho Government might consider such a scheme and ;ask tho 'profession to-lay: ...its views .before';: them. Under.any-such"scheme, the.practitioners themselves must be .'subsidised-and paid out\of public funds,.as, at Bcllinzpna, in Switzerland.': In ' New : Zealand, ■ on - every side, the • practitioners had ! allow.ed themselves . to;'.be.-'exploited; '■■■■'■ and .there.;wero', : .'iristances "where hospitals which. emnlpyed. a: medical ■ m an at a good salary, with quarters, .allpwing him: to compete in private practice , with his brother practitioners. It wotild only' bo fair tliat a medical 7 mari should be allowed a-feo'rfpr: .a ; death 1 certificate, 1 and ■ the certificate: 1 ought to ..be-;.a :1 privileged and corifid'ential,document between .'the doctorand , the : registrarAJ v The;''registrati6n ..of births 'and'-.dettth's,^and;;ov.en marriages, should .bo:i.,a function - i of.:. tho' Health Department.". Of. what'.'benefit, for. in- ' stance; was it for the authority to

learn ; that: someone died from, say, consumption in a-house in their area a month previously? By the early notification of Dirths in Great Britain.great good had resulted. . ■ ■.'"•' ~■ ■

. Regulation of Marriage...; ; Although' certain-proposed regulations in regard to marriages "liad been formulated in different quarters one.' must' ad-' mit, ; whilst' recognising : that they would bn good for the race, that one could carry regulations" too far when one interfered with tho sacred rites' of people., ' If, however,. ; marriage was- only indirectly brought under the jurisdiction of, the Health Department at least; an'attempt might be made by tho issue,of pamphlets to people maTrying ■'telling ■'them some useful' physiological facts.; It would : be better, still if there could be /classes in hygiene at!the schools'- and also schools for workers in the larger .centres. 'The best.' immigrants, to New Zealand were strong and healthy children born in the Dominion and once they ■ arrived their undeveloped brains should not be crammed but they should be strained up gradually, by, mean's .of. kindergartens, , schools, continuation classes,-etc., ; to develop- into healthy mothers and strong fathers.. ' ■' ':;'■•: .;':V' : ":' : ;• ' '; '■.-... -.-;■■ ;;-." Value of Vaccination. . . "Vaccination,;, was rapidly ' becoming obsolete; in the .Dominion' in spite of the factthat;absototely pare.calf lymph, was at the disposal of. the State.: The larger number of unvaccinated children in New. Zealand was .the'.fact that their parents -had conscientious objections .but,.because .they thought that.''it T would db time enough to have their children Vaccinated when small r pox occurred, arid ;that tho chances' of a small-pox ..visitation 'ivere remote; If there-was'• one subject ion- which; the medical profession . was united it was the absolute safeguard of vaccination and the.; dangers ■, unvaccinated - children, ran. He..'had; never seen any: near or.remote which could pe traced, to vaccination. '. It was, still a- -moot point, as to whether..- .cancer ; .was. , . Von tho increase.; Ttie;-:. , profession. :was agreed, that.there was.ip so-called 1 cure,for' , cancer except operation. Dr* Itarnoch, the new professor: of surgery •at • Aberdeen Univer-sity,-..had-.recently ' emphasised l the fact •that:owing to the^ns'idious , nature of .the disease and the widespread popular ignorance as. to its'character, a fatal delay was too often tolerated! ,:•." ' , .'„.'

■ ;^; Tlie;Knife for, Cancer. ; ■.' ■■■: The medical profession'were .now. very properly ■ taking.:.; the -'.view.:. that -, it . was much, safer, to. have a doubtful tumour dealt witli'.at.ah'early stage : tnan to wait until . the sinister .tell-tale ■ feattires ,of cancer' .had. declared , tliemselves. -People were sometimes led to.delay Vowing to the fact' that'.in the early phases.of the ■disease., they . were 7 devoid. bf. ; -pain, ■ and, it was.really.a.'pity : that'such was",the■ case,' as were: it .otherwise.''medical.' men would be consulted earlier.,;.lt could iibt .be .too , strongly; insisted; upon) that .cancer at the 'outset .was'.a' local .disease,; and; was curablo.by complete.excision.- r t These views were'> endorsed, by-' the profession-'as a whole.-;In conclusion,''the'president went on'to say that' ; th'e:professioii was .never : better!'equipped.-than ,; at present to , cope .with disease. Much had been done' during the. past thirty years-Hill tending to benefit. the ; public withjthe.;consequence that there had. been an. enormous increase in the comfort •of each .individual .life. "It is always the greatest ,help to the doctor,' , he added, "when"he knows that the public 'are with'him in;his everyday'ifight., Doctors are.- only 'human',- and , , none of us come;, up to , the '..'high- ideal, we! have set for'. ourselves, but;l •trust .'we are' always striving , 'to : 'adyarice,.and ; ih, that struggle ;we look for; am,'sure; Have', , the:.ready of the public'at "large/' , A hearty.,; v'ote' T of .thanks;.was-accorded Dr. Purdy;, for-hie .address;-; Supper; was. afterwards ■;served. "■-':■'.. ,'T'V , ,■ '■ '■'• ?■.'■•:•:. ■•■"''■':■'."] To-Day's Programme. --■■■;' '■: The.conference will meet, for.- discussion of scientific subjects .'this morniiig and evonirig.;. At.,'the evening meeting Dr. Hastings Young will:put forward- a plea for, a standard , artificial: food-for in-: fants; it 'This! afternoon .the delegates ■ will. ;atten4' a. water, picnic.-'' To-morrow- af--' .tei-noon ■-. they ' ivill. ;be received'' by the Mayor/; at.'the.'Town., Hall ! at 4 o'clock.' lii the evening the association'dinner will b? held, and there will boa social", evening for ladies ,at ..the .Pioneer, Club. ;