THE MEDICAL CONGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10048, 7 February 1896, Page 5

THE MEDICAL CONGRESS.

[BIT TKLEOIUPII,— AB3OUIATION.]

Dunedin, Thursday. At tho Medical Conference to-day Dr. Springthorpe, Melbourne, delivered the presidential address in the health section by reading a paper on "Tho Battle of Life from a Physician's Point of View." Dr. Stonhouso in tho same section read a paper on " Educational Problems," in which ho contended that education in schools should not commence before seven years of age. Ho denounced the system of standard teaching a» false in theory and faulty in working. As to fomale education, especially secondary and univorsity, he believed it was settled on lines entirely opposed to the scientific opinions of tho day. Dr. McDonall, New South Wales, thought it would be a mistake to havo the commencement of education at seven. Dr. Mason thought the point at issue was an individual problem. Dr. Springthorpe, Bpeaking generally, regarded the sending of the average child to school before the age of six or seven as the lesser of two evils. As to the education of females perhaps it was true that a woman's brain was less than a man's, bub there was reason for this in the cramping process of the past. We might in time, when woman got back the extra brain power which they had lost for want of use, find a female Shakespere. It seemod to him that women were entitled to be educated like those of the opposite sex if they could go through it, and ho thought they could go through it in many instances, though they frequently suffered from the way they wont about it. High pressure and continued over pressure seemed to him to be the main evils of our modern system of education. A telegram from tho Premier was received at the Medical Congress to day stating, that the road to Mount Cook was in (good order for travellers, and that a guide would bo in readiness for mombers who proposed to undertake the journey.