MEDICAL PROBLEMS

Southland Times, Issue 19098, 16 November 1923, Page 5

MEDICAL PROBLEMS

THE RAVAGES OF DISEASE DIPHTHERIA AND DIABETES MORE VALUABLE PAPERS (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE, November 15. (Received November 15, 8.35 p.m.) The Medical Congress dealt with diphtheria and insulin. Regarding the former, statistics were submitted showing that of 7000 throats examined, 1.6 per cent, were found to be carriers, while a. further test disclosed that half of those examined v*ere susceptible to diphtheria. No child, who had been tested scientifically, had been subsequently attacked by the disease. In reference to insulin, it was asserted that the dietetic management of a diabetes patient, who had been treated with insulin, was just as essential as before its introduction. Large doses were disapproved. The present prices of the drug were considered prohibitive for the treatment of poor people. The efficacy of some insulin produced in Australia was questioned owing to its inert conditions. Dr Decrespigny stated that experiments of giving insulin by mouth instead of injection, had proved ineffective. RADIUM TREATMENT. DR HARDWICK SMITH’S EXPERIENCE (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. November 14. Interviewed on his return by the Uiimaroa from the Old Country. Dr Hardwick Smith stated that his experience at Home had further convinced him that radium was a necessary adjunct in proper expert hands to the treatment of malignant disease. He had studied experiments at his old London hospital in the treatment of malignant diseases in women by radium. Radium, in combination with surgery, gave a greater proportion of cures in malignant disease than surgery alone gave. He was delighted to hear that Wellington intended to obtain a supply of radium for the Wellington Hospital. Radium treatment would be of inestimable benefit to the public generally, and no centre like Wellington could regard itself as properly equipped medically without radium treatment for malignant and other diseases.

He found that the .daily Press in New Zealand gave more notice to scientific advances than did the daily Press at Home, and that the standard of the people’s education on public health questions was higher here than at Home.