IN THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 216, 19 September 1911, Page 5

IN THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY.

GRATUITOUS WORK BY THE DOCTORS.

(Received Sept. 19, 9.35 a.m.) 'SYDNEY, ;Sept. 19. At the opening of the Congress Lord Denman referred to the doctors as public servants, and eulogised their gratuitous work aiad self-sacrifice in 10'-cause, of humanity, v Dr. Pockley declared that th© increasing scope and complexities of medicine were such that they lengthened the cdwrse- of study. Three to fiv^ years was altogether insufficient. With the exception of some portions of the brain and spinal cord no parts of the body were sacred from the surgeon's knife. Pseudo-scientific writers made exaggerated claims for the usefulness; of radio-activity. Practically all the therapeutic effects of radium can be got from the Rontgen Rays. Radium emanations were not a cnre for real cancer. The early removal by a surgeon was the only rational treatment. Referring to a,' White Australia he, declared that the whites could never permanently and continuously occupy the tropics. They must either allow the country to remain unproductive or use colored labor. Th© public failed to realise the value of the gratuitous work done by the hospitals. In Sydney's two largest hospitals free operations valued at £400,000 per annum were performed altogether. The gratuitous work in Sydney amounted to close on £1,000,----000. He dealt exhaustively with man's acquired immunity from certain diseases through const-ant contact, and'instanced the native races' susceptibility to consumption, compared with the whites, who had experienced the disease for many generations. Alcohol was more stringent than tuberculosis in susceptible weeding out. The propagation of the race was left in a. large measure to those upon whom the craving had no hold. Thus alcohol was not the cause of racial degeneration. All the evidence showed the opposite. Nature would eliminate drunkenness. Regarding eugenics their limited knowledge did not justify them in taking the responsibility. _ It was better to let nature manage in her own way.