THE MEDICAL CONGRESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 29

THE MEDICAL CONGRESS.

By Telegraph. — Press Association. -Duneihn, February 3. The Intercolonial Medical Congress met to* day. The election of the next president and the choice of the place of meeting for the next Congress were adjourned till Saturdav. A proposal to form an Australasian Medical Association,for the maiu purpose of producing one medical journal for the colonies, was negatived after a. lively discussion by 42 votes tt» 2G in favour of an amendment for continuintr negotiations instituted by the last Congress. A memorial from the Women's Christian Temperance Union, Victoria, with reference to the Contagious Diseases Act was introduced by the Secretary at the request of tho Union, and was received with laughter, this being checked by an observation by Dr Mickle, Christchurch, to the effect that it should be received with respect. On the motion of Dr Springthorpe, Victoria, it was resolved to transfer the memorial for the purposes of discussion to the public health section. THE MAYOR'S LUNCHEON. The members of the Congress were entertamed at luncheon by the Mayor. The Governor, Premier, Colonial Treai3urer "Biahnr* Neville Father Lynch, local members of thS Legislature and members of local bodies were. present. —■S e *£ eecho ? werG in a light vein. in proposing the health of tho Govornor7>ciJ.2 j£at though the masterful and manful diplomacy of and Mr Chamberlain might fail to able and honourable settlement of the presenV grave questions of Imperial policy, it would be found that all parts of the Empire wero prepared for the worst, and speaking himself as an old Volunteer on behalf of the Volnnteorsof the Colony, he could assure His Excellency that the Volunteers were prepared to do their duty in defence of the Colony, and that they would help to maintain Em Se ge honour of the vast British His Excellency, in replying, expressed his pleasure at being present, and his respect for the profession. " The Ministers and Legislature " fell to Mr Justice Williams, who remarked that the Colony had reason to be proud of tho Legislature. All would agi-ce that Ministers had brought to boar on the administration of aifairs diligence, attention and dovotion to duty.

Ihe Premier having expressed his ploasuro at the hearty manner in which tho toast had been received, welcomed, on behalf of tho people of tho Colony, tho-.o men who mado personal bacrilioes, and went it> "roat expense* in order to bo pro out, and whoso sole object was to do good to suffer! ur humanity. Having roforrod to Government had been askod to d^M^l

9 the Congress a success, ho said the medical men of New Zealand had shown they were alive to the advantages of the gathering. He had placed himself in communication with the other colonic?, and asked them to send over their medical representatives, and he was glad to say that, with one exception, the colonies had readily responded, and in that had federated for the purpose of having a successful Medical Congress in Dunedin.

Dr Batchelor, the president, replied to the toast of " The Aledijal Congress." After lunch the members oil the Congress were entertained at a garden party at the Dunedin Club.

In the evening the inaugural ceremony took place in the Choral Hall, the Governor declaring the Congress open in a short speech. The Premier welcomed the visitors, and dwelt upon the natural attractions of New Zealand, expressing the belief that the Congress would for that reason result profitably to the Colony as well as to the visitors. Dr Batchelor delivered the inaugural address, and tiaced the progress in scientific knowledge and the treatment of disease within the last quarter of a century. In the course of his address he hinted at the desirableness of extending the course of professional training. Dunedin, February 4.

At the Medical Congress to-day, Dr O'Hara (Melbourne), president of th s section of surgery, read the opening address in that section. He referred to the death of M. Pasteur, who first established the germ theory of putrefaction, which was put into practical use by Sir J. Lister, who introduced the antiseptic treatment of the wound. He (Dr O'Hara) had come to the conclusion that sepsis occurs in the wound, it is in most cases introduced by the operator's bands or the instruments the is using. The most prominent feature in the treatment of disease of late years had been the introduction of serotherapy and the most successful results up to date had been achieved with diphtheria. It might not be a specific in all cases, but it had given the most marvellous results in the most hopeless cases, and reduced the mortality to less than one-half of that recorded before its introduction. Dr O'Hara mentioned that during an epidemic of diphtheria he performed tracheotomy 52 times, and every case succumbed. He turned to the subject of cancer, and quoted a number of cases he had treated. Experience, he said, helped to strengthen the theory that cancer was infectious, but this could not be regarded as established without further proofs. Having dealt with other branches, he concluded by referring to the increase in gynaecology cases operated on.

Dr Grace said he had never seen a successful case of tracheotomy in diphtheria, butDr Garde (South Australia) differed, and said that in 30 cases he had been successful in seven or eight. A vote of thanks having been passed, the general papers were taken, Dr Delautour leading off. Dr Hayward read the presidential address in the section of medicine on behalf of Dr Sendon, of Melbourne, who was not present. He invited atteution to the question as to the share which the general practitioner had in the advancement of medicine as contrasted to those who devoted themselves to special branches, Referring to Dr Edward Jenner's discovery of inoculation, he said this generation did. not really know what small-pox meant a century ago, and hence parents, moved by their infants' tears, were easily persuaded that " they did not hold with vaccination," and that it engendered a'l sorts of diseases in after life, as though skin eruptions and delicate health were unknown before the days of Jenner. What work, continued the paper, is there for the general practitioner to do in the twentieth century, to advance the science of medicine. The | achievements of the past must be the augury, for the work that it is possible for him to do is boundless. It may not, like Jenner's, mean the saving of countless lives, but it will add to our common stock of knowledge. Let him question all authority and doubt all dogmatism, and having shaken off the trammels of tradition and authority, general practitioners would bo more likely to do their share in the advancement of medicine. A vote of thanks was passed for the address. In the Public Health section, four papers ■were read, including one by Dr Chappie (Wei- .' lington) on "The Public Health Aspect of Alcohol." Dr Springthorpe, the president, said they ought not to be satisfied with the reading and discussion of papers, but should submit resolutions embodying the conclusions arrived at and submit those to Congress, and if these were adopted they should be sent on to the various Governments. Dr Chappie will therefore bring forward a resolution in favour of establishing inebriates' homes. ! Among the papers read in the medicine ' section was one by Dr T. Hope Lewis, of j Auckland, on " The New Zealand Thermal I Springs." j In the eye, ear and throat subsection, Dr I Jackson (Melbourne) presiding, a committee | -was appointed to draw up a report on tests for vision in sailors and railway men, which was discussed. Dr Worrall, of Sydney, presided in the midwifery section, and two scientific papers were read by Dra Lovo, of Brisbane, and Townend, of Christchureh. Professor Watson, of Adelaide, delh-er-f-fl-the presidential address in tJj£* -^ a tomy section. _ ... ,^--^ r Intho a£bej»Zoh toe members attended a given by Mrs W. H. Reynolds. His Excellency and suite, as well as Ministers, were present. The members of the Congress were entertained by the Savage Club after the evening sitting. The Premier and Colonial Treasurer were also present.