SURGICAL SCIENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12093, 21 March 1925, Page 5

SURGICAL SCIENCE

DOMINION STANDARD “HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT BETTER THAN IN ENGLAND.” CANCER RESEARCH. After a* twelve months’ tour of America, Britain, and the Continent, in the course of which ho studied the surgical and hospital systems in the countries visited, Dr. P. T. Putnam, one of the leading surgeons of Palmerston North, returned to New Zealand by the Marama, which arrived in Wellington from Sydney yesterday. INTERESTING COMPARISONS. In the course of an interesting chat with a “New Zealand Times” reporter. Dr. Putnam touched on various matters and drew some interesting comparisons between other systems and those in operation in New Zealand in the field of medical scienoe. “HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT BETTER” “The equipment of our New Zealand hospitals,” he stud, “is .better than that in the institutions at Home. In England the hospitals are supported largely by voluntary contributions, with the result that they are always ‘hard up.’ This shortage of finance has a detrimental effect on the institutions, and that is -why their equipment is not as good as ours.” Incidentally, Dr. Putnam mentioned that the voluntary system of maintaining: hospitals was to be found in Australia. VOLUNTARY, SYSTEM. Asked whether he thought there was likely to be an abandonment of the voluntary system in England, Dr. Putnam replied that hs -did not think so from what he observed. He was inclined to think that they were too conservative at Home to make much change in the present system While in America he had! visited the Maher Institute, and he had been very impressed with the work. “They are doing an excellent work there,” he commented. The American hospital system generally, Dr. Putnam thought, Was an excellent one. SURGICAL WORK. He had studied the surgical systems abroad very closely, “and,” said Dr. 1 Putnam, “T can say that the average surgical work in New Zealand is quite equal to that in England.” “You don’t think then that New Zealand surgeons have much to learn from their British colleagues ?” queried the reporter. "There is always much to he learned,” was the reply, “but aa far as the average work is concerned it is as good in New Zealand and Australia as it is at Home.” CANCER RESEARCH^. One of the subjects to whkfc tbe door tor paid considerable attention was cancer research. “Ac-great deal of reeearoh is going on at present,” h* said, ‘ TM; Bo far there have been no definite results to put forward.” Dr. Putnam aaid a good deal of geographical research was being undertaken with the object ofobtainmg data concerning the distribution of the disease. He was net prepared to say if a cure for cancer was likely to be found or not. It wee a difficult matter on which to express an opinion. “THE'WHITE SCOURGE.-” Dr. Putnam sounded a cheering note when what was being dene in connection with tuberculosis. “The opinion is general now that this disease is becoming less prevalent,” he Said, “due to the fact that people have a better knowledge of it, and aUS> to better sanitation and a keeper regal’d far the laws of hygiene.”