MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11530, 17 March 1898, Page 5

MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. THE SPREAD OP CANCER. [Tee, Press '''’TMlfGfdCliECH 16. Dr Fell’s presidential address to the Medical Association was devoted to the growth of cancer in New Zealand. This disease, he said, was of comparatively recent development, but now claimed in. New Zealand alone 380 deaths per year. He read a table for the last sixteen years, which showed a remarkable increase in the number of males who had died from thiscause. This was because the disease was more internal than with"women, and more, inoperable. The number of deaths would, be much larger but for the operations. A fair proportion of these were successful in prolonging life, either for some years oraltogether. The cause of the disease no one could tell. There was an unknown something in it that no one could name, but some day the riddle would be solved,, and preventive measures would check its ravages. Ho did not favour the theory that low-lying and swampy districts had a good deal to do with cancer. A letter was read from Dr Hacon, Christchurch, desiring the Council to express an opinion as to the necessity forinspecting meat for export, and milk. It was resolved that the Council should: consider and if necessary move in the matter. Dr Mackie thought that the colony should have a State bacteriologist.