BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 11674, 5 February 1902, Page 6

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

NEW ZEALAND BRANCH.

The following concludes yesterday's proceedings : TNFTJCTENCE OF ANESTHETICS. Dr Hendry, in his paper upon the intbv ence of anaesthetics, contended that in certain cases the use of ether produced bane trouble, and that in such cases it was safer to use chloroform. Where the luncs were in perfect health it was probably safer to use ether, but where symptoms of predisjMwsition to disease were in evidence chloroform w.ts preferable. The paper «as discussed, and the bulk of the speakers inclined to the opinion that v crs.es where septic poison was into the lungs it was attributable to oth>ar ci-tses than the anesthetic employed.

Br Hendry was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his paper, which was Hstened to with close attention. DEFB.KSSED FRACTURE OF SKULL IN INFANTS.

Dr Riley read a paper upon the above subject, and illustrated his argument by the production of two children before the Congress, one of whom had been left + o Nature, and the other who had been subjected to pressure in order to remove accidental indentation. A short discussion followed the reading of the paper, and Dr Riley was accordeo. a vote of thanks. A motion to set up a committee to investigate the whole subject was negatived. BLUE-LIGHT TREATMENT OF LUPUS. Dr Colquhoun (president) gave an illustration of the application and effect of blurlight treatment in cases of lupus. Ths treatment consists in concentrating the sun's rays upon a focal mirror and after wards transmitting them through a gla-n .essel containing blue liquid on to the affected parte. The doctor said Ibis treatment was successful principally because the sun's rays were destructive to the baci!li of lupus—following them into every crevice and destroying them. RETORTING INFKOTIOT7S DISEASES. A lengthy discussion took place, upon the recommendations of the Kelson section in regard to 'esponsibilities placed up<*n medical men to report infectious and suspected infections diseases. Dr Mason (chief health officer) intimate.l that the Government had decided to pay ?s for each notification, but that the payment would only apply to one charge, for eaci house. Upon this assurance being given, Dt Hudson withdrew the resolution dealing

with payment. Dr Brown opposed the resolution, on the ground that it would be undignified on the part of the Association to demand fees Medical men had duties as citizens to per form as well as duties as professional men. He agreed with the principle that a Gove -c merit should not a>k anyone to work without paying them for it, but if the Govern ment protected their profession and the citizens from unregistered practitioners he thought the profession would not err in co-operating in any reasonable effort to protect the public health. Dr Hudson then moved that notification to the health officer be sufficient, leaving it to that officer to notify the houseboide.and local authority. Dr Mason (chief health officer) explained that notification to the householder and to local authorities was necessary in order that legal action could lie taken. Some cf the districts were so large that if onrv the medical officer was notified considerable delay and risk to the public health w0n..4 arise before action could be taken. Several members having spoken in condemnatory terms of the provisions of the Act, it was finally derided that the Council be requested to communicate with the health officer, with the view of simplifying the procedure in notifying infectious dis cases.

Dr Hudson then moved that chemists should not be called upon to notify as well as medical men, and tliat "suspected cases be not reported. He contended that where the medical man notified there wai no necessity for the chemist to do so, and &aid if every " suspected" case was reported upon the thing would be an impossibility. They could only tell by de velopmeni whether a case was of an infectious nature or otherwise. Dr Masou. said that the department ma-le it obligatory upon chemists to report, be eauFe it was notorious that m many di-t----tricts —in country districts especially - chemists prescribed in cases before the doctor was called in. He was willing to issue a circular to medical men explaining what the de|>artment wished, but. as cases were being treated by others than the regular profession it was necessary that the regulations should be exploit. The President ruled the motion out of order, as it practically meant the Association repealing an Act of Parliament, a power which they did not possess. Dr Mnllin. moved that notification in tb-j case of tuberculosis be made solely to the health officer of the district. He felt vdv strongly upon this matter, as he was called 1 upon to obey a law of the State whi hj placed the responsibility upon him o divulging confidence reposed in him as a medical man. He objected conscientiously to report such cases to the local borough councils, and thought a report to the heahn officer was quite bunicient. Dr Masoa said he thought that consump tion stood differently to other infectious cases, such as typhoid, smallpox, and diphtheria. Dr Muffin's morion was carried, and the Congress rose at- 6 p.m.