MEDICAL CONGRESS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 15120, 14 August 1913, Page 11

MEDICAL CONGRESS.

DEATH CERTIFICATES. I ""' "DEAD OR ALIVE." 'Times"—Sydney "Sun" Special Cables Press Association—-By Tel.—Copyright. Received 6.40 p.m., August 13th. LONDON, August 12. At the Medical Congress, Dr McElalter (Ireland), advocated the State instituting necropsy into every death is the only possible means of ascertaining the cause. Recently, a Dublin loctor, upon information imparted, gave a certificate and heavy insurance was drawn. During the wake the jorpse rose and complained bitterly at not having received a proper share of the proceeds. IMPORTANCE OF HEREDITY. Professor Bateson in a paper on Heredity, said it was impossible to avoid the- conviction that, no matter what influences were brought to bear by hygiene or education, the ultimate decision rested with the germ cells. The whole course of modem science and legislation had been exercised to pre- j serve defective strains in our midst. Genetic science did not yet justify tho present violent measures in America, with a view of controlling marriage on the basis of eugenics, because genetic physiology was still empirical. The conference resolved to conduct experiments on animals with a view to discover tiie relation between alcohol and degeneracy. The Congress has closed to meet at Munich in 1917. PREACHERS ON DOCTORS. Special sermons were preached in St. Pau's, Westminster Abbey, and Westminster Cathedral, on the responsibility and influence of the medical profession. AN AMERICAN VIEW; WASHINGTON, August 12. Cardinal Gibbons denounced the science of Eugenics as an infringement of personal liberty. Marriage was something sacred, and no civil law should interfere. Of the various States which have passed legislation aiming at sterlising criminals only two are enforcing the law. MODERN MEDICINE. REDUCING THE DEATH RATE. Press Association—By Tel.—Copyright LONDON, August 12. The Hon. John Burns, President of the Local Government Board, delivered an address on the relationship of medicine to public health. He pointed out that there were 772.811 fewer deaths in England and Wales from 1909 to 1911 than there would' have been if the 1877 to 1880 death rate had been maintained. The saving of life from special diseases during tho same pericd amounted to 867,008. The saving of life- during 32 years was nearly four millions. Mr Burns was subjected Ho much interruption by suffragettes. SALVARSAN. The majority of speakers at ' the Medical Congress testified to the efficiency of the salvarsan treatment, Colonel Gibbard mentioned in his introduction that salvarsan in tho British army annually saved the State tho cost of the hospital treatment of a whole battalion of infantry. A LOCAL CONGRESS. TUBERCULOSIS BOARD. SYDNEY, August 18. The report of tho Tuberculosis Advisory Board has been tabled in the Assembly. It recommends compulsory notification and the issuing of certificates to dairymen who must comply with certain conditions, including keeping only cows that withstand the tuberculin teste. Tubercle carriers should be kept under supervision. Instruction should be included in school reading books, and in films at picture shows.