MEDICAL SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1930, Page 8

MEDICAL SCHOOL

NEW ZEALAND STUDENTS

A HIGH STANDARD

In tlio course of his address at the meeting .held yesterday in connection with tlio successful campaign for an Obstetrical Chair Endowment Fund for Uio New Zealand Medical School, Sir Thomas Sidoy (Chancellor of tlio Otago University) made sorao interesting remarks on the work of the Medical School and the excellent work of the medical, graduates. . -.

It was inevitable, ho said, that in the course of a campaign liko that just concluded, that something should be said, however unintentionally, which might be taken to reflect on a branch of tho work carried out in that institution. The president of tho New Zealand Obstetrical Society had already borne testimony to the excellence of the work. The Council of the University, said Sir Thomas Sidey, had nothing but admiration and keen appreciation for tho manner in which Professor Rilcy and his two assistants, Dr. Ritchie and.Dr. North, had carried out their duties under great difficulties. As had been pointed out, this movement was not only an Empire movement, it was really a world movement. The Council of the University had been • aware for a number of years of the necessity for strengthening the position so far as the teaching of midwiefry was concerned. About seven years ago the Medical Council of-Great Britain had revised and improved the' requirements for midwifery teaching. In New Zealand we had had great difficulty in complying with the new requirements. There did not exist a modern maternity hospital in which students could go into residence. It was recognised that the professor should giv,e his whole time to this branch of medical work. As had been stated by Dr. Irving, the standard of qualification of the medical profession in New Zealand was; quite as high as that in. the Old Country, and our students who had gone to Britain had gained many .competitive appointments in tho best hospitals. Sir Thomas Sidey quoted from a letter written by a well-known .New Zealand medical man, in which ho said that while, in London last year ho met many graduates of tie New Zealand .Medical School, and was much impressed with the good work they were doing, and with the high praise they were receiving from .those best fitted to judge. TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIPS. Figures were quoted by Sir Thomas Sidey Ito show that the mortality rate at St. Helens Hospital and the Batchelor Hospital, Dunedin, were low, and compared favourably with the position in Denmark, which had the lowest European death rate. '. Reference had recently been made to the small number of cases available in Dimedin. When the new maternity hospital was completed it was anticipated that there -would be at least 400 cases per annum. Further cases would be available at other St. Helens Hospitals.

Assurance was given by Sir Thomas Sidey that the Obstetrical Society -would be consulted in connection with tlie appointment of" the new professor, and no- doubt also in the case of future professors. The Obstetrical Society would also be consulted in reference to the devoting of tho surplus fund to scholarships, etc. Legislation or new regulations might be necessary to enable the fund to be subsidised.

Sir Lindo Ferguson, Dean of the Medical School, endorsed the remarks of. the Chancellor, and added that he was not at all sure that" the balance beyond tho. £25,000 would not do more for the future than the larger amount. The balance, together _ with a subsidy, would enable two travelling scholarships to bo given, tenable for. two years; so that in twenty years we would have, twenty centres-throughout the Dominion in which the improved training would bo available. It was impossible for anyone to say how far that would raise the standard of medical work in obstetrics and gynaecology. Sir Lindo Ferguson paid a tribute to the work of the late Dr. Batcheloiy especially in connection with the establishment of ante-natal clinics. The speaker expressed the opinion that it was probable that neither the, public nor most of those who had taken part in the recent.successful campaign fully realised the importance of the work that had been done. .