INCIDENCE OF GOITRE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1935, Page 7

INCIDENCE OF GOITRE

DISCUSSION BY THE B.M.A. IMPORTANCE OF lODISED SALT. ITS IMPORTATION INADEQUATE. SHOULD BE KNOWN AS STANDARD. By Telegraph—Pi-ess Association. Dunedin, March 2. A subject discussed at the British Medical Association conference just concluded here, was goitre prevalence. the increased incidence of which has caused concern to delegates. The opinion was practically unanimous that the measures proved effective in combating the malary are generally neglected by the public and that an intensive educative campaign is necessary. It is stated that investigations at the local medical school had been ably prosecuted, but proa-ess was much hampered by the Government’s parsimonious attitude.

Resolutions were passed expressing conviction of the value of iodised salt in proplaylaxis of the disease and regret that the importation of such salt was completely inadequate? The conference considered that all domestic salt should be iodised and known as standard salt. Concerning medical research it was resolved: “The conference is convinced that more medical research should be undertaken in the Dominion and asks the Government to restore the grants for this purpose to the National Medical School, which it considers should be regarded as the centre for research.” Amongst the subjects discussed were prostatic obstruction, recent work in anaemia treatment and X-ray diagnosis of the abdomen. The national health insurance scheme was also discussed, the conference’s findings being forwarded to the Hospital Boards’ Association for its meeting next week. At the annual business meeting this morning the following office-bearers were appointed: President elect, Dr. R. H. Hogg (Invercargill); general secretary, Dr. Ansom; journal editor, Dr. Rhind; executive, Drs. Corkill, Stout, Gibbs, Tracey, Inglis; members of council, Sir Lindo Ferguson, Sir Donald McGavin and Dr. Hardie Neill.