THE MEDICAL CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 18

THE MEDICAL CONFERENCE.

COMBATING CONSUMPTION. AUCKLAND, March 1. Among the papers read at this ricrning's meeting of the Medical Conference W2s one by Dr Mason. Cl-ief Health Officer for the colony, on " The Duty of the State Towards Consumption." H& said: — "It seems to in& that this tendency to lean is j reductive of mental slackness, lik-e to that which comes to the muscle through non-use. I am a firm believer In the doctrine that the State has many legitimate duties end spheres of action, not always recognised even by the advanced Liberals of older countries, but there seems to me -a tendency to rolegate, many matters to the Government wh.ch rightly should be supported either in \i hole or in part by lo<-al or individual units. There seems to ma a danger of this attribute being assumed towards consummation. Let us first look at the machinery requned within the State it an effective campaign is j ■to bs carried out against this disease. — (1) There should be adequate accommodation for all persons suffering from the disease. I don't mean by this that all should be housed in institutions. (2) There should be some regulation by -which the true amount of the disease existing in the country can be obtained, such as compulsory notification. (3) There should be careful and skilled observation of all foodstuffs likely to transmit the dlseas-e. (4) There should be efficient disinfection or destruction of all | matteis likely to convey the disease from one animal to another. (5) There should be legal machinery by which such aids to health as ample air space, prevention of overcrowding, etc., may be> brought into operation " Dr Mason said he would point out, as a result of representations being made, that a large amount of mouey had been raised from private sources. He asked medical men to join hands in instilling into the community at large the ease with vhieh the disease could be stopped. As a result of the- paper the meeting declared unanimously in favour of the desirability of the formation in New Zealand of a society for the prevention of tuberculosis. A committee was formed to consider a draft scheme- which Dr Mason would lay before it.

A fire brigade lu^ been formed at Roxburgh under fa\QVu\ibl© circunistancea.