THE MEDICAL CONFERENCE.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1501, 7 March 1903, Page 2

THE MEDICAL CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS PASSHD. (BY telegraph—prkßS ASSOCIATION.) Nelson, Last Niaht. At the annual conference of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association the following resolutions were passed : That this meeting respectfully urges the Government to place nil institutions connected with the treatment of mental and bodily diseases under one department and to make provision fcr advanced cases of tuberculosis by erectins annexes to our present hospitals. That this meeting wishes to draw the attention of the Government to the need nf better ventilation on steamers anil railway carriages, and they would suggest that regulations against overcrowding be strictly carried out. That, in the opinion of this meeting, Government should compel notification of disease of the. mammary gland in cows, the milk of which is used for human consumption. That this meeting strongly deprecates the attack which has been made upon the Chief Health Officer and his assistants in Aueklaud, while attempting to carry out the duties devolving upou them under the Public Health Act. The attention of the conference having been directed to the puhlicatieu in various newspapers of the colony of a paragraph setting forth the astounding infrrmation that fcarlet fever jr not infectious during the state of desquamation (peeling), it was unanimously resolved, 'That, in the interests of the public health the para' graph should be publicly contradicted, as evidence is conclusive that scarlet fever is infectious during the whole course of the disease and in the peeling period,' A recent statement by Dr Koch that in his opinion bovine tuberculosis was not transmissible to the human being was held to have been amply disproved by all the most eminent authorities. Numerous instances were given by the medical practitioners present of casea in which thrt disease had developed ap> parently from drinking milk of tuber* cular cows, the sufferers in some instances dying after a short illness. The system of inspection of cattle and dairies which had been inaugurated by the Government would, it was hoped, be extended and made more regular. Animils proved to be diseased should, it was urged, be immediately slaughtered and, until it was possible to establish more regular and more frequent inspection of tqn dairies, if there was the slightest doubt of the parity of the milk, should be scalded. The next annual meetiug is to beheld at Wellington. The election of tho officers resulted :- Presidet, Dr. W. E. Collins (Wellington) editor of Journal, Dr. Mason (Wellington) ; secretary, Mr H. SI. Gore (Web lington).