MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6729, 26 February 1900, Page 1

MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

At the afternoon sitting on Friday, Mr J. A. Gilruth, Government Bacteriologist, gave a demonstration on the cultivation and staining of specimens for bacteriological ex-, j amination. Mr Gilruth .described the. method of preparing and staining specimens for examination under the microscope, giving practical illustrations of his remarks. The demonstration was much appreciated by the members. Afterwards a discussion took place on the paper which had been read in the morning by Dr Truby King. * . , Dr Scott moved that the deputation whicb had been appointed in regard to tuberculosis should be requested to interview "the Premier on this subject, also with a view toenabling voluntary patients to be admitted to asylums on a basis similar to that on which tHey would be admitted to other institutions ; to abolish the term " asylum, and instead to use the term "hospital for mental diseases ;" the provision Man ° • patient department, officered by asylum ex : ; parts ' at the hospitals in the • chief cent-ff* for persons suffering from mental disease?. The motion was seconded by Dr Irving and carried. „ ': Dr Irving read a'paper on "Vaccination. He quoted from an article appearing in the weekly edition of the London- " Times .on Dec. _2, when .reference had been made to a speech made by Mr Chaplin before theAssociation of Public Vaccinators. The article stated that a return, made up. to the end of June last, showed that the vaccinations in the preceding six months had been more numerous by no less than 77,000 than in the six months preceding the-pass-ing of the Act which brought into existence the " conscientious objector." Referring to the administration of the Vaccination Act, 1885, in. this colony, Dr Irving stated that he had offered to supnly, at his own expense, copies bf a leaflet issued by the, British Medical Association" setting forth the advantages of- vaccination, to be distributed with each birth-registration paper. The matter had been referred to the Colonial Secretary, bufc he had Heard nothing further of the matter, though' some months' had *'■ passed since he made the offer. It was absurd that the Government should keep up a station at Hawke's Bay for. the production <jf calf -lymph and yet should refuse to allow medical men facilities for teaching th. people the nature and benefits of vaccination. •:* Had anti-vaccinationists seen as much of'- that most filthy and offensive disease* small-pox, as he had, they would move heaven and earth to have every individual in the colony vaccinated and re-vaccinated. On the motion "of . Dr Graham; Campbell; seconded by Dr Mickle, the Parliamentary Secretary was requested to approach the Government on the subject of having facts about vaccination printed on the backs .of the birth-registration forms. At 5.45 p.m. the meeting adjourned. At the evening meeting, Dr Scott read a paper on the "Administration of tbe Health Acts "of the colons*-. ' P c said that the Public Health Act of 1876 undoubtedly now required revision without further deiay. It was, in its day, an admirable piece of legislation, being the embodiment of the major part of the English Public Health Act of 1875, quite up to, af not'in advance of the thought and the wants of the tiniß. This Act remained substantially tho same now as when it had- first coitie into force. Not only had the colony not ad T . vanced with the times, but it had actually permitted the Act to become a dead leiter in so far as many of itfe important provisions were concerned. Dr Scott* then dealt in de-taibjrU-h many of- the; most important •=sections in the Act, pointing- out directions in which they required amendment. He also suggested that the Municipal Corporations Act should be amended so as to, compel a Corporation to have and keep in good order proper and suitable drainage works, and to provide a pure and efficient- water supply. In conclusion, Dr Scott pointed out how many important provisions were neglected, particularly how the Public Morgues Act of 1886 had become a dead letter. He said he would like to see a Department of Health established with permanent officers. Dr J. M. Mason, in a second paper on " Public Health," said that New Zealand, in the miitter of legislative experiments pertaining to the health and comfort of the people, had set an example even to the Motherland, Yet much remained to be done. The Central Board of Health, though its constituent elements were individually energetic, and full of zeal, sadly required vitalising as a collective bedy. The apparent nearness of the plague had roused us, and in this matter the Hon J. G. Ward had acted with promptitude and despatch. But whatever' might be done at the principal ports at which we had able and zealous officers of health, nine-tenths of the country were looked after by Boards and Councils which were without the benefit of skilled advice. To meet this state of things, which ought not to exist, Dr Mason counselled— First, ths appointment of a Minister of .Health, for when we came to realise Hiat a country's best* asset was a healthy population ; that/ while we had experts to assay our soil, inspectors to clean out our flocks, Ministers to guard our railways, the conservation of our surest" source of wealth had not yet been elevated -to the dignity of an Under-Secretaryship. Secondly, tliat there should ba a paid expert as in bhe Old Country, to advise tho Minis-ter.-of Health, and say what precautions should be taken in times of common danger ; and, thirdly, that there should be but one sanitary authority for each county, and each county ought to have a medical officer of health. "That shortly, gentlemen," said I Dr Ma-pn, "is the scheme I would suggest for your' consideration, and l feel sure that should such a statement be presented to the Government, and backed up by the weight <ff your influence, some, if not all, of its provisions may be accomplished." . Dr Colquhoun said the papers were very valuable ones, and that read by Dr Scott gave information wliich he must confess was | 'new to liim. Ho would like to see the papers printed. The question of public health was a most important one, though in a country with such a low death-rate as New Zealand had, the public might not think it necessary, to pay niuch attention tc sanitary matters. Dr Truby King said that the principles which had been laid down were sound and were generally recognised. Permissive k-ris-lation. on such a subject as that of public health was useless. Dr Graham Campbell said he trusted some practical result would be the outcome of the papers. A i Dr Connolly agreed with Dr Colquhoun that the papers should, if posfible, be printed, and a. motion to that effect- was carried. Continuing, Dr Connolly said thafc in New Zealand they had veterinary, surgeons to look after their animals, but no public officers to look after the health of the public. At the suggestion of Dr Scott, it was decided to forward copies of the papers to the Municipal Association, and the Parliamentary Secretary was directed to bring the gist of them before the Government. : Drs , Sj'ines, Morton Anderson. Mickle and Frengley also took part in the discussion. ' The President thanked the members for their regular attendance and those who had contributed J pajWrs, and especially Mr I Gilruth for his very interesting dei-mnstra-, tion, and said that it de * eived a wl-.ule day to itself. At the suggestion of the Prosident, the. Secretary was instructed to write to the Mayor and City Council for the use of the Muncipal Buildings. In proposing a vote of thanks to the Gov-

ernment-,-, Dr Graham Campbell said that theyhad always found the Government open to sensible suggestions from '. the medical profession. Dr Mason and himself had recently interviewed the Government in respect to the question' of a bacteriological apd pathological laboratory for the colony. They pointed out that while cattle had a large "amount of - attention given to their diseases, no such provisions had heen made 'fot the conservation of. the public health, ,with the result that there was now in Wellington a Government pathologist,-prepared to examine and report on specimens sent to him. They were also indebted to the Government for -concessions, granted to members, attending the annual meetings. The _G,oV-' ernment had 'been exceptionally liberal.^ Last year they had given the members 7of,the Association a free trip to "Rotorua, and this year a trip to Mount Cook or. Hanmer .Plainsjas well as .excursion fares over, allthe Government lines. A,. These favours, which had been so readily granted, must be' looked upon as indicating the intention of tW ! .Government.to fpster_ anything which, .advances the welfare. y • ';'- „_ Z Tho resolut|ph.ijya3 carried 'with'enSdarn-*-; 1 tion. y 7 '^.v...*.. '•' ' , *"'" '"'• * *•'■ '*' ■' *. *■;*., Votes of thanks were also accorded to-the ■Wellington' and Manawatu Kailway Com.pany for railway concession's ; to' the drug and others, : who had exhibited Jihstrnments ; to the reporters ; to the C-an- [ terbury Jockey Club ; and to tha stenographer. ;• -; - Dr Colquhoun, on behalf of . :the -visitors, returned thanks to the members of the Canierbury 7 sectjLbn for the hospitality that had been extended to them, mentioning particulatly the President. ... Dr Thomas, in reply, said that he had received .very, valuable assistance from the General Secretary (Dr Graham Campbell). .Other votes of thanks were passed, and the conference came to a close.