DOCTORS IN CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12605, 7 March 1903, Page 10

DOCTORS IN CONFERENCE.

(Per United Press Association-.) . NELSON, March 6. At flic animal conference of the Now Zealand branch of the British Medical Association the following resolutions were Basse:!: — " That this meeting respectfully urge the Government to place all institutions connected with the treatment of mental and bodily diseases under one department, and to malic provision for advanced cases of tuberculosis by erecting annnexes .to our present hospitals." " That this meeting wish to draw the attention of the Government to the need of better ventilation of steamers and railway carriages, and they would suggest that the regulations against overcrowding be strictly carried out."

" 'L'iiat in the opinion of this meeting the Government, should compel notification by tho owner of ail cases of diseases of the mammary gland in cows tho mill: of which is used for human consumption." " That this meeting strongly deprecato the attack which has teen made upon the Chief Health Officer and his assistants in Auckland while attempting to carry out the duties devo'ving upon them under the Public Health Act." Tho attention of the conference having been directed to the publication in various newspapers of tjic colony of a paragraph setting forth tho astounding information that scarlet fever is not infectious during tho state of desquamation (peeliii»), it was unanimously resolved that in tho interests of public'health the paragraph should be' publicly contradicted, as evidence is conclusive that scarlet fever is infectious during tho whole course"'of,tho disease in thp> peeling period. A recant statement by .Dr Eoch that in his opinion bovine tuberculosis'was not transmissible to human beincts was held to have been amply disproved by all most eminent authorities. Numerous instances were (riven by the mcdical practitioners of cases in which disease was developed apparentlv from drinking milk of tubercular cows, the sufferers in somo instances dying after a very short illness. The system of inspection of tattle and dairies which had been inaugurated by the Government would, it was honed, be extended, and be made more regular. Animals proved to be- diseased should, it wiis urged, be immediately slaughtered. and until it was possible to establish more regular and more frequent inspection of dairies, if there was the slightest doubt of tho purity of tho milk it should he scalded. . .

Tho need annual meeting is to be held at Wellington.The election of officers resulted thus: President, Dr W. I?, Collins (Wellington); editor of journal, ; Dr'Mason (Wellington); secretary, Mr H. M. Goro (Wellington).