COLLEGE OF SURGEONS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 56, 4 September 1934, Page 11

COLLEGE OF SURGEONS

STORY OF ITS EISE

SIR LOUIS BARNETT'S PART

The annual meeting of the New Zealand branch of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons will be held in Dunedin next Thursday and Friday. As usual at these conferences two days will be completely occupied with demonstrations and discussion on the most modern methods in surgery; attention will also be given to tho report of the hospital committee and the work of the college for the previous year.

Tho story of the rise of the college is of especial interest to New Zealanders, as there is little doubt that it was through the exertions of a New Zealandcr, Sir Louis Barnett, of Dunedin, that tho first inspiration arose. Sir Louis had been advocating such a college in New Zealand for many years, but got little- encouragement at the various meetings of the British Medical Association at which he introduced the subject. Gradually, however, he won converts, and when the greater Australia and New Zealand proposals were made, he dropped his first idea and threw the whole of his energies into launching the new body.

It w,as as recently as August 19, 1926, that seven New Zealand surgeons gathered in "Wellington and passed the resolutions which led to New Zealand's share in' the college. A few days later delegates from this meeting, and from similar groups in the Australian States, met and took the first steps towards founding the college, New Zealand's important place was recognised. She was allotted six out of the forty founders of the institution. New South Wales and Victoria were allotted each ten.

. On February 5, 1927, at Dunedin, the inaugural meeting of the college took place. Preliminary -work was1 far enougli advanced to have the first annual meeting in March, 1925. This was held at the Federal Capital of Canberra in Australia. There was a large gathering from almost every State in the Commonwealth and New Zealand. A remarkable feature of this meetiug was that of the half-dozen statesmen on the platform, including Lord Stonehaven (the Governor-General of the Commonwealth), no fewer than three wore medical men, Sir John Goodwin (Governor of Queensland), Sir Seville Howse, V.C. (Minister of Home and Territories to the Commonwealth), and Dr. Earlo Page (Treasurer of the Commonwealth). After this meeting, the college never looked back. It found a "Surgical Quarterly Journal," which can compare favourably with similar publications long established. In 1929 the Charities Board of Victoria (corresponding to our Health Department) welcomed in its annual report the new body as an important factor in guiding modern hospital policy in the best interests of surgery and the protection of patients. APPOINTMENT OP FELLOWS. Hospital committees of the college were formed in every State, including New Zealand. Advice has been asked for and given in regard to the construction and equipment of many new hospitals by these committees. Three years later the collego Became a Royal College, and in 1931 the College of Surgeons of England sent out by Mr. C II Faggo a special mace and greetings to the new college. Although the Federal authorities offered a si to-in Canberra, this was not accepted, and tho now library and home of the college is being erected in Melbourne. It will be a building worthy of the best traditions of surgery, and a Mecca lor surgeons throughout tho Commonwealth and New Zealand. Tho lightning rapidity of the growth of the college, which within seven years of its founding has made its presence felt in the hospital world, and in scientific research; has- established a standard "Journal of Surgery,'' received a Royal charter, and founded a worthy edifice, has no precedent m the history of surgery. No medical man can become a Fellow of the college until he has had five years' hospital experience in surgery after qualification, has. taken a: recognised senior degree, and has submitted himself to the searching examination of a Board of Censors. Incidentally, tho college has alreadysucceeded in'getting the various medical schools to standardise their senior degrees, and also has arranged for the first part of tho English Fellowship examination to bo held both in Australia- and New Zealand. A great deal of the attention of the collego has been given to tho hospital problem, so that the very best surgery may be available to nil patients whatever their circumstances. It has done a great deal of hospital work in this respect. It has only been by the unremunerated efforts of a band of public spirited men (hat the college has reached its present position and power for good. At tho last conference in Christchurch a year ago some 37 Fellows of the college were present from all parts of New Zealand. Sir Donald McGavin, Dr. Campbell Begg, Dr. T. Duncan M. Stout, and Dr. Erie Luke leave for tho south tonight to attend the annual conference.