COLLEGE OF SURGEONS

Northern Advocate, 19 April 1933, Page 3

COLLEGE OF SURGEONS

SYDNEY INSTITUTION,

PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS

(Special to “Northern Advocate.”)

WELLINGTON, Tuesday

“The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons has made gratifying progress since its foundation in Dunedin in February, UffiT/’ said -Sir Louis Barnet (Dunedin, vice-president of the college, who returned by the Alakura yesterday after having attended the sixth annual meeting of the college in Sydney. “It now numbers nearly (500 fellows, of whom over 100 are in the New Zealand register, and it has done, and is doing, much to raise the standard of surgery, surgical education, and efficiency in hospitals throughout the whole of Australasia.

“At the opening ceremony, presided over by the Governor-General (Sir Isaac Isaacs), and attended by a distinguished gathering of lay and medical guests, Professor Gordon Bell (of Otago University) delivered the Syme Oration, choosing for his subject ‘Hospital Problems/ with special reference to the educational factor in hospital organisation. Professor Bell’s scholarly and comprehensive survey of his subject received high praise from all privileged to hear it, and his New Zealand colleagues were, of course, particularly delighted with the manner in which their country’s credit was so brilliantly sustained.

“A very extensive and splendidly organised programme of operations, clinical and pathological demonstrations and surgical discussions at the various Sydney hospitals was carried through without a hitch, and no attending fellow could have failed to gain much useful and stimulating information, The subjects covered a wide field in both general and special surgery, but the greatest interest was manifested in those dealing with cancer and its increasingly successful treatment wifli radium and X-rays; the surgery of brain tumours; the advantages and disadvantages of new and old methods of inducing anaesthesia; the surgical treatment of lung diseases; and the surgery of bone and diseases. “A contribution from Xew Zealand that aroused much interest Avas the annual report of the committee engaged on the collective investigation of hydatid disease. Jt is anticipated that within a year or tAvo full records of JOOO cases of hydatid disease occurring in Xcav Zealand and .Australia av ill be available for analysis. ‘'A dignified headquarters building situated on a magnificent site in the heart of Melbourne will, it is expected, be ready for occupation in the near future. A sufficient sum of money has already been contributed by felloAvs ot the college to AA r arrant a start being made. ,It is intended, to begin Avith, to provide accommodation for offices, a post-graduate graduate bureau, lecture rooms, museum and library. The opening ceremony Avill probably take place during Melbourne's centenary celebrations in 1034-35."