DOMINION HOSPITALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18685, 15 April 1924, Page 12

DOMINION HOSPITALS.

HIGH STANDARD GENERALLY.

GOOD WORK *OP SURGEONS.

BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT.

AMERICAN DOCTORS' VIEWS.

Comments concerning the Dominion's hospital system were made yesterday by two American physicians, Dr. Richard B. Smith and Dr. Franklin-Martin, who attended the medical conference in Auckland last month, r Both have visited the south and Australia, in company with other American doctors, and are through passengers by the M&kura, ..The doctors were present at various hospitals when surgical operations were performed. The Operations were exceedingly well done, said Dr. Smith, and were entirely modern. He added that there were seme good surgons in the Dominion. Most of them had travelled' abroad and had gained valuable experience. The X-ray equipment and laboratory work at the principal hospitals was also favourably commented upon. The Dominion's one medical school was of a high standard. Although one large medical school was better than a multitude of small ones, he thought it advisable to establish a medical school at Auckland, There was, in this city sufficient material to conduct a perfectly satisfactory surgical clinic However, some considerable time would be taken up in developing it to a high state of efficiency. A large sum oi money would be necessary to found and improve the clinic. More money was also required for the provision of new hospitals and. equipment. By this he did not mean that the present facilities were unsatisfactory, but with new hospitals came new equipment* This was an ago of transition. Old buildings must be replaced by up-to-date ones to cope with the demands of modern medicine and surgery. New buildings were constantly being constructed in America, where they could not afford to pause in their building programme. Maternal mortality in New Zealand, continued Dr. Smith, was exceptionally low, compared with the rate in America. This he attributed 'to the difference in living conditions and the general health of the people. The incidence of cancer in Oris country was no more alarming than it was in other civilised countries. ! The welfare work for children was a fine undertaking and was a credit to Dr. Truby King. "The general hospitals in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Donedin are first-class and equal to the hospitals, of Canada, which we consider to be the finest in the world/' said Dr. Martin, In Dunedin the party inspected and was greatly impressed by the medical t school there. Dr .Martin said the public hos'pi tela throughout the Dominion and Australia were generally of a high standard, although there was room for improvement in some respects. During their travels thev had visited some very fine private hospitals, notably in Auckland and Christchurch. "