MEDICAL CONGRESS.

Waikato Times, Issue 12187, 23 September 1911, Page 5

MEDICAL CONGRESS.

CURE FOR CONSUMPTION. HOUSE FLIES AND FEVER. (Per Press Association.—Copyright. (R'cedved Sept. 23, 12.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 22. The Medical Congress discussed the value of the tuberculin cure for consumption. 'Sir Philip Sydney-Jones said that tU'berculim was very useful in certain cases that were hanging fire, hut its indiscriminate use was positively harmful. He had seen it used in unsuitable cases With disastrous results. Dr. Finlkh stated that they had begun to use tuberculin in the Sydney hospital automatically. The result was such that instructions had been given to the general staff for its employment in all cases of tuberculosis. Ev e ry memfcer c«f the staff favored it. This course was decided upon after observations extendng. over four years.

Dr. Simmons read a paper which dealt with pulmonary diseases amongst quartz miners at Bendigo. The total deaths from lung disease had risen from seventy-seven per 10,000 in the first >qni:niquennial period to 155.10 in the last. This was largely accounted for by the increase of those certified as due to tubjprcu'los-

Dr. Breiul read a paper on tropical medicine investigation for the past 20 years., He was convinced that the unsuitalsdldty of a tropical climate depends mostly on the prevalence of diseases carried by intermediary hosts which flourish in certain parts of the tropics. Yellow fever and malaria were both combatted by the use of mosquito nets. Another paper dealt with thfe spread of typhoid by house flies. It was stated that the American Army Commission found that during the Spanish war flies inflicted greater loss on the American forces than the arms of Spain. Similarly great losses were experienced in the Boer war. The use of kerosene and blue ail in keeping down flies was advocated.

CARE OF FEEBLE-MINDED. DEATH OR EMASCURATION ADVOCATED. (Received Sept. 23, 9.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 23. At the Medical Congress an important discussion took place in the feeble minded. Dr. Fisbbourne advocated the creation of separate colonies, and dwelt on the necessity of legislative interference in order to check- the increase of feeble-mindedness which was the imost hereditary of all diseases, by providing for the future helpless and half-witted population. Doctor Stevens (America), favored the Spartan idea of putting to death the feeble-minded early in life. He saw no use of anybody looking at it from the moral aspect, and was doubtful if the 'question resolved itself into , a survival of the fittest. The mental (balance of a nation (must be maintained and the .question of emascuration should also He seriously considered if they were to materially reduce the numlber of inmates of prisons and asylums.