MEDICAL CONGRESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 32, 22 September 1911, Page 6

MEDICAL CONGRESS.

Sydney, September 20. At the Medical Congress Dr. Purdy declared that fully 40 per cent, of the youth’ of Australia wore unfitted for efficient military service, but in the course of a very few years, owing to the great improvement in the national physique effected by compulsory training, the percentage of unfits would be greatly reduced. Dr. Hayward road a paper dealing with alcohol. Whereas formerly every case of acute disease was treated mo m or loss with alcohol, it was now g nurally recognised that, it was not necessary, except under certain definite conditions to order neurotic patients alcohol. It was almost as \rnai as to supply them with mo no ua uni t j - podcrmic syringes. Professor Alien read a paper on serum and vaccine therapy. The result of vaccination in Germany was that, small-pox was practically stamped out, while American statistics showed that the incidence of typhoid was fifteen times less among inoculated than these not. inoculated.

THE VALUE OF RADIUM. FASTING FAVOURED. (Received 21, 10.55 a.m. ) 1 Sydney, September 21. At the Medical Conference Dr. Lawrence, president of tnc detcrmatology section, dealing with radium therapny, declared that it was of great value in some inoperable malignant coudi-

tiaiis. Occasionally surprising results followed. Radium was often of immense value in the treatment of skin diseases, fmt judicious selection ol cases for treatment was absolutely necessary. Professor Allen declai eel that five thousand cases of syphilis were recently discovered as the result of collective investigations in Melbourne by means of the Washer inarm test. It was provisionally estimated that 7 per cent of the population of Melbourne was infected in some stage or degree. There was no reason to suppose it /was worse than any otnor capital. Dr. Hayward, in a paper on the treatment of disease, declared that ho was becoming convinced that fasting for health was a valuable therapeutic agent, which was justified on physiological grounds and also common sense. Mental suggestion was also valuable in certain complaints and should bo developed. '