BACKBLOCKS DOCTORS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 57, 5 September 1934, Page 18

BACKBLOCKS DOCTORS

IN NORTH AUSTRALIA

At Canberra on August 3 the Minister for the Interior (Mr. Perkins) referred to certain paragraphs ..of a book, "Australia's Backyards," which, Mr. Perkins said, reflect on the character and professional.ability of medical practitioners in the-Northern Territory- service. . ' •'■■''. '..

Mr. Perkins "said.-that one paragraph, reading as follows, particularly called for comment: "A notable clan, too, have been the blackguard -doctors that are occasionally foisted on the tropics. Maybe it is difficultto get first-class men to go there, but the fact remains that a large percentage have been confirmed alcoholics, and an even greater percentage of their operations have proved fatal. The. mortality used to be terrific, but either through good luck, or otherwise, a slight improvement obtained later."

■ "The medical officers of the Northern Territory-service," said Mr. Perkins, "are comparatively young men of sound professional training, possessing excellent credentials and of good character, and not in the slightest degree such as are represented by the author. There is no difficulty in getting good men to go to the Territory. -}n the contrary, large numbers of applications are always received from candidates with excellent qualifications when any position is advertised. Mr. Milford's statements are a reflection on capable, conscientious, and reputable officers.'' .

After studying 2000 candidates for the R.A.F.,- a medical officer now states that overweight is better than underweight; heavier men can stand prolonged physical and mental stress and are less liable to disease than their slimmer colleagues.