MEDICAL RESEARCH

Evening Star, Issue 19024, 20 August 1925, Page 10

MEDICAL RESEARCH

DEPARTMENT ACTIVE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 19. The Hon. Sir Maui Pomare (Minister of Health) states that the only medical research concerning which the Department of Health is in a position to give information is that which is being carried out with the funds provided by the Government. The work in hand comprises an investigation into the incidence, causation, and prevention of goitre; the study of anterior poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis), with a view to discovering the factors which cause this disease to display epidemic manifestations, some means of detecting it in its early stages, and methods for its prevention; and an into rheumatoid arthritis and kindred diseases, which are the cause of much invalidity and suffering. An inquiry dealing with cancer is about to be started, a sum of money having been recently made available for the purpose. This inquiry will probably bo of a statistical nature. The work is incidental to goitre, infantile paralysis, and cancer, and is being undertaken at the Medical School in Dunedin.

The department has recently appointed a research officer with special qualifications for this work, and he is acting in collaboration with the University authorities. The investigation regarding arthritis is being carried out by the orthoprodic specialist of the Dunedin Public Hospital. As the result of tho investigate!! dealng with goitre a very material advance has boon made in the treatment and prevention of this disease among school children in particular and among the population generally. It is yet too early to make any pronouncement in connection with the other investigar tions.

The intentions of the Government are to sot aside from time to time sufficient sums of money to enable investigations to he undertaken into any_ matters of special interest to the dominion. The Department of Health has no knowledge of the intentions of others in regard to medical research work.