SURGEONS MEET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 13

SURGEONS MEET

PACIFIC CONGRESS DISCUSSION OF PROBLEMS AUCKLANDER AS PRESIDENT A notable absence of any extravagant claims was one feature of the Pan-Pacific Surgical Association's second congress at Honolulu that impressed Mr, Frank Mucky, of Auckland, one of the five New Zealand delegates, who returned by the Niagara yesterday. "Too often untried discoveries of wonderful cures are prematurely given to the world," remarked Mr. Macky. "Even the most strikingly new things at this conference were presented on a sound, conservative note." The congress was held from August 8 to 14, and two other delegates also returned by the Niagara. 'J hey were Dr. A..A. Tennent," of Wellington, and Dr. E. I). G. Gillies, of Palmerston North. Dr. J. Hardie Neil, of Auckland, left the Niagara at Suva and is returning later, while the fifth delegate, Dr. W. Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, will arrive by the Monterey on Friday. Mr. Macky stated that many features of the congress were of outstanding interest. Emergency Surgery "The very high incidence in the United States of motor and industrial accidents has led to widespread development of the emergency hospital, and the training of a staff devoted solely to emergency surgery," stated Mr. Macky. "The subject was prominent at the congress, and produced some papers of outstanding interest, followed by keen discussion.

"Many of the outstanding contribu- j tions to the congress were made by | members of the teaching staffs of some j of the best-known American colleges and clinics," continued Mr. Macky. | "A striking feature is the fact that i these men are busy operating surgeons j and highly progressive research workers ; at the same time. The great help to the standard of the profession in any community afforded by the presence i of a teaching faculty is clearly demonstrated." Natives' Health The extremely mixed population of the Hawaiian group was mentioned by Mr. Macky, who said it had a very definite bearing on the public health question in the territory. The tuberculosis problem was a very real one and many of the native races were highly susceptible to disease and reluctant to enter hospital, thus forming a constant menace to others. "The method of attack on this situation was full of interest, and a good example of American thoroughness, also of the impulse to reduce everything to figures," added Mr. Macky. He said chest surgery and chest hospitals were developing rapidly, and a round-table conference on this subject at the congress proved full of interest. High honour was paid tq, the New Zealand delegation at the association, which appointed Dr. J. Hardie Neil as its president in succession to Dr. George W. Swift. A broadcast public address was given by Dr. Hardie Neil, according to the Honolulu correspondent of the Herald. During his address he said: "By national health insurance the cost of sickness is distributed over the community as in another form of insurance. The medical profession in New Zealand is entirely in favour of a national health, scheme and confidently expects to be freely consulted by the Government before any such scheme is put into operation."