FROM LEECHES TO X-RAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18396, 24 February 1928, Page 8

FROM LEECHES TO X-RAYS.

A VEIN OF PESSIMISM ran through the presidential address delivered by Dr Hugh Douglas at the annual conference yesterday of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association. One must admit that most of it was justified. Dr Douglas, for instance, pointed out that surgeons were extraordinarily expert and successful in dealing with appendicitis where it had occqrred, but, as regards its causation or prevention, science was no further ahead. With cancer, the position was the same. “ When a patient asks, ‘Why did I develop a fibroid tumour?’ we cannot explain.” This is but one side of the picture, though it is a disturbing side. Fortunately, there are brighter aspects, and, as Dr Douglas said, the world is entitled to take fresh courage and be filled with hope when it recalls the advances made during the last fifty years in bacteriology, physiological chemistry, X-rays, ultra-violet rays, and dietetics. interesting remarks on this subject were made recently by Dr .1. V. M’Creery, who has the distinction of being the oidest doctor in Victoria. Interviewed by tire Melbourne “ Herald ” on the progress of medical science during his lifetime, Dr M’Crccry said:— “ The greatest problem that confronted the profession until practically the end of the nineteenth century was the mystery of the microbe. Until the year 1880 we had no knowledge at all of bacteriology. This ignorance was a great hindrance to the profession, and when it was realised what real importance had to be attached to the microbe, and the large part it played in contagion, medical science made great advances. Until near the end of the nineteenth century we had no idea of antiseptic surgery, and no knowledge of the X-ray, or the use of radium. Why, to take temperatures, doctors had to rely on the feel of their own hands. There were no such things as thermometers. The most common form of treatment in those times was blood-letting, either by incisions or by the use of leeches. The X-ray was first brought into use about 1898. Its real powers were then unknown, and several doctors sacrificed their lives in experimenting with it. Many others were injured by burns. It was a gradual process, and they did not realise the danger until too late. Rapid strides have also been made in surgery during the last forty or fifty years. Amputations in the old days were as common as they are now rare Surgeons of to-day are able to get to the root of most troubles, because of their greater knowledge, and valuable limbs are saved.” Doctors, their patients, and people who have no desire to be their patients must all feel re-assured after reading such a review. Crave problems affecting humanity have been overcome in the past. There is reason to believe that the grave problems of to-day will be similarly overcome, that cancer, for example, will be routed as cholera was routed. Certainly a hopeful sign is the wide hunger of the people for knowledge, and allied to that is a greater freedom on the part of the medical profession in disseminating information concerning health and right-living. Doctors have been a long time finding out that a sure way to conquer disease is to wage war on ignorance.