CANCER PRONOUNCED AMONG THOSE WITH UNHEALTHY TEETH

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6666, 20 July 1928, Page 7

CANCER PRONOUNCED AMONG THOSE WITH UNHEALTHY TEETH

Coal-tar Workers are Specially Susceptible CLERGY REMARKABLY FREE FROM DISEASE United Press Association—By Electri* lolegraph—Copyright. .Received Thursday 6.5 p.m. LONDON, July If Several speakers at the Cancer Conference, dealing with occupapational cancer, directed attention to its incidence in workers among soot, coal-tar, hrlquetlng, and mineral oil; also to British statistics showing a preponderance of cancer of the lip and tongue among ~ . smokers, notably workers using clay" pipes or , having diseased ■ teeth. Dr. T. H. C. Stevqnson commented oa the outstanding position, of tho clergy in relation’to cancer. He said that the' mortality in the Anglican and Nonconformist clergy low compared with the rest of the population. Eoman Catholic , priests and monks also occupied, an honourable position. Sir Thomas Horder said;— I "The question of prolonging life in the presence of cancer, neither oper- . able nor capable of rcsorbtion by radiation, is but a part of the general, question of prolonging’ the life of incurables. - ' • "It has been said that prolonging the life of those afflicted with hopeless diseases is often prqlonging the act of dying. No universal rule can bo laid down.' ' The patient’s life is his own prerogative. . Tho problem is only solvable by tho exercise of tact, discretion,, and the. constant reflection that tho patient is tho central figure on the stage." . ing conditions of tho industry. It was not intended to compel registration of small gardens, but there must bq power to inspect, all places where fruit trees are grown. . Hawthorn Hedges Must 00. In the' case of combating fire blight ho realised that discretion was necessary, . But where the blight existed hawthorn hedges must bo. cut down. The disease had been considerably reduced in'’ tho Worth Island, hut ho was confident it would never be oradi- , eated while hawthorn hedges existed. They wore a carryover for the disease in 'winter, and it might work out in orcliaWs miles away in tho spring.. The second reading was agreed to oh voices. ’ Oh the motion, of Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) tho Eight-to-Work Bill was postponed for a fortnight.

AlOttVM |/Vi«vw*w ■The Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, then moved the second tending, of the Mental Defectives'Amendment Bill: v ■ • : V ; ■ : He said the object of the Bill was to bring the Mental Hospital Department into line with' modern thought. The Bill abolished the office of InspectorGeneral mental defectives. The new title being Director-General of Mental Hospitals. ■The term "mentally, defective person'.* is extended to mean one who suffers . from mental deficiency associated with or manifested by anti-social conduct, and who requires supervision • for his own protection or in the public Interest; ' I . Alternative procedure for admission of patients to mental hospitals provides that a request may be made to tho superintendent of mental hos--pitals for admission of a person. The superintendent may act on this request prodded it is supported by certificates of two - doctors and that a period of seven ' daysafter tho of the rc'qilc'st"' has ‘ not elapsed. This procedure is, however, subject to review by a Magistrate. The‘Minister stressed the importance of mental patients being subjected te treatment on tho first sign of the malady, since when taken in hand early a cure was often possible. Tho Minister then dealt with procedure provisions as has already appeared in these columns. To show, the importance of the precautions of the Bill tho Minister quoted cases of sic families in Now Zealand produced by feeble-minded parents. The children were a life long charge upon the State at an enormous' cost. ■•■■■' • . . : Special institutions may be provided for the 'segregation of, registered defectives and the board may also authorise tho sterilisation of any person, but. only .upon consent, this consent being given by tho person concerned or the-parent, .or guardian. Proposals regarding sterilisatioa were based on the recommendation of a committee set up by Sis Maui Pomare . in 1924, ; ' ‘ *' . ' Societies recognised by the Minister may receive grants from Parliament to enable them to carry out their work of ameliorating the conditions of mentally defective persons. Referring Bill to Committee. After explaining the Bill clause by clause the Minister stated it . was intended. to .refer- the Bill to the committee which could takp evidence. ■ The Bill did not go so far as the’ committee sot up in 1924 nor as far as Dr. Gray desired it to go. But the Government thought it was best to put all their cards on the table in order to get a full expression of public opinion upon its provisions. 1 It was not a Party measure and in that spirit ho' submitted it to the House. .When read a second time ho would’ask to have it referred to the Public Health Committee. • In -response to requests from the . Leader of the Opposition tho Prime Minister agreed to adjourn the . debate until to-morrow and the House rose at .1150 till 2.30 to-morrow.