MEDICAL CONGRESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8652, 10 February 1914, Page 6

MEDICAL CONGRESS

FORMALLY OPENED FIRST DAY’S PROCEEDINGS. Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 9. The Australasian Medical Congress was formally opened for business at 11 o’clock this morning. Nearly 300 delegates were present, and the president (Dr A. C. Purchas) was in tho chair. Only formal business was done. A number of reports were received, and referred to the sections of the congress which they affected. The executive’s report was received and adopted. Dr Purchas briefly welcomed the delegates to Auckland.

Dr J. A. MacDonald, chairman of tile British Medical Association, delivered an address on the British Insurance Act and its effect on the medical profession in Britain. In the afternoon tho majority of the delegates were present at a reception in the Exhibition grounds. This evening the Congress was formally opened 'by His Excellency the Governor (the Earl of Liverpool). Addresses of welcome were given by the Prim© Minister (th© Right Hon. W. F. Massey), th© Minister for Public Health (Hon. R. H. Rhodes), and the Mayor of Auckland (Mr O. J. Parr). PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. In hks presidential address Dr Purchas dealt with very many subjects in an interesting way. Reviewing the modern advancement of medicine and surgery, he said that in tho latter branch extraordinarily good work was being done at present. In the field of physiology great changes had taken place, and in fact in two years’ time a text book of physiology became obsolete—so great was tho progress made. The trend of this marvellous progress in unravelling the mysteries of nature was that they were coming nearer to the realm of preventive disease. Hygienic measures, prophylaxis, and treatment had already increased the duration of life, as was proved by statistics. Who could tell, he asked, if it would not come to pass that they should attain the ago of 100 years or even 150 years before they began to feel the march of time upon them ?

The president went on to express the opinion that the Government of New Zealand did well when it passed the Infant Life Protection Act. Prior to the passing of the Act one of the saddest duties a medical man had was to be called to attend one of the many boarded-out children. No matter what instructions were given, nor what efforts the doctor made, he had the mortification of seeing the child fade away till it eventually died. Now, since the passing of the Infant Life Protection Act it was the rarest thing to have a mortality amongst those children, and each on© saved was a distinct asset to the State.' STILL SCOPE FOR RESEARCH.

Referring to the many recent advances in bacteriological science, Dr Purchas drew attention to the wide field for investigation and distinction that still remained for somebody. Although so much was known about many diseases, there was a long list of specific infections which like the poor, they had always with them, whose micro-organisms had not yet been discovered. They were still on the list of “wanteds,” and included such familiar friends as mumps, measles, chickenpox, rheumatism, small-pox, and a host of others.

“In these get-rich-quick times,” proceeded Dr Purchas, “the all-absorb-ing topic that engages the mind not only of our own people in theee young States but also of those of the old communities is the accumulation of wealth and the enjoyment of luxury. The medical journals in England and in these States have for years demanded an investigation into quackery by a Royal Commission. The worst phase of quackery is the teaching and practice of limitation of families. As pathological study is indispensable to the treatment of disease, so the work of ouch a commission* could not fail to present a statement of this, the greatest possible national trouble. According to the 'Lancet’ quackery has destroyed more in Great Britain than the sword, famine and pestilence united, and never was there a period in the history of British medicine at which the force and truth of this opinion was more obvious than at this day.” SOCIALISM AND RACE DANGERS. The president than quoted from Dr Roger Williams, F.R.C.S., of London, who in reference 'to Australia wrote as follows:—“Under the influence of Socialistic ideas immigration is discouraged, although the declining birthrate has already fallen to such an extent as to endanger the future of the race. Thus the population is about stagnant, and it contains an unduly large proportion of adult and elderfy persons. Owing to the cheapness of meat and the gluttonous habits of the people the amount consumed per head is exceedingly high. Under these circumstances the tubercle mortality has diminished, while the evidence of cancer has greatly increased. In New Zealand, where the conditions of existence and social evolution resemble those of Australia, the leading morbid tendencies are also somewhat similar. Cancer and insanity have increased and are increasing, while tubercle is declining. The people are prosperous with a diminishing birth-rate, and immense quantities of flesh food are consumed.”