MEDICAL CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Issue 52, 2 March 1935, Page 11

MEDICAL CONFERENCE

CONCERN ABOUT GOITHE

THE INDIFFERENT PUBLIC

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN. This Day.

The most important subject discussed at the British Medical Conference, which has just concluded, was goitre, the prevalence and increased incidence of which caused concern to the delegates. The opinion was practically unanimous that the measures that have been proved effective in combating-the malady are generally neglected by the public, and that an intensive educative campaign is necessary. It was stated that investigations at the local Medical School had been ably prosecuted, but progress was much hampered by the Government's parsimonious attitude. Resolutions were passed expressing the conference's conviction of the value of iodised salt in the prophylaxis of the disease; and regret that the importation of such salt was completely inadequate. The conference considered that all salt for domestic use should be iodised, and known as standard salt. MEDICAL RESEARCH NEEDED. Concerning medical research, it was resolved that "the conference is convinced that more medical research should be undertaken in the Dominion, and asks the Government to restore the grants for this purpose to the National Medical School, which it considers should be regarded as a centre for research." . Amongst the subjects discussed were j prostatic obstruction," recent work in the treatment of anaemia, and X-ray diagnosis of the abdomen. The national health insurance scheme was also discussed.

The findings of the conference are being forwarded to the ■ Hospital Boards' Association for its meeting next week. At the annual business meeting this morning the following office-bearers were appointed:—President-elect, . Dr. R H. Hogg, Invercargill; general secretary, Dr. Anson; journal editor. Dr. Rhind; executive, Drs. Corkill, Stout, Gibbs, and Tracey-Inglis; members of the council, Sir Lindo Ferguson, Sir Donald McGavin, and Dr. Hardie Neill.