SURGEON’S TOUR ABROAD

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1930, Page 11

SURGEON’S TOUR ABROAD

CANCER AND SUN TREATMENT.

HOSPITAL FINANCE SYSTEMS.

After an extended tour abroad, during which he carried out investigations into the latest developments in modern surgery, Dr. H. R. Dew, formerly of Melbourne, ts returning to Sydney by the Niagara, which arrived at Auckland on Monday.-

“As far as medicine and surgery are concerned, British universities still lead the world in undergraduate education,” Dr. Dew said. ‘However, although most of our students go to England for their post graduate courses, I have come to the conclusion that this class of work is more advanced in the United States.” An arrangement made recently whereby young-'doctors would be able to take the first part of their examinations for fellowship in the Royal College of Surgeons in Sydney was of importance to New Zealanders, Dr. Dew continued. It was thought that this step would prove of great assistance in the development of post-graduate work in Australia. j.;/“The question of hospital control is w* ing. investigated all over the world, ’ Dr. Dew said. “Not all countries are as fortunate as the- United States, where large hospitals are established under endowments from • wealthy meh.'/In Great- Britain the most recent development is the establish" ment of private wards in• connection With large hospitals. The system of. voluntary financial support is not proving successful. In New Zealand your hospitals are State owned, and I understand that other coun tries' have entertained the idea of following your lead. Personally lam averse to (he scheme, as I believe tends to exploit the medical profession.” . Little progress had been made in the direction of cancer research abroad, Dr. Dew continued. London, Manchester and Paris were the three centres where radium was being employed to the greatest extent, and it appeared that the first necessity, jn any campaign against cancer was an adequate supply of radium. The craze for sun treatment was rapid-

ly dying a natural death. It had originated in'the United States and, although a certain amount of sun treatment might be I beneficial in some c"?es, it could not b?

pretended that the treatment was a cur* for all ills.