FIRST MASS X-RAYING OF EUROPEANS

Chronicle (Levin), 19 February 1947, Page 5

FIRST MASS X-RAYING OF EUROPEANS

-Press Association

By Telegraph-

NEW.PLYAIOUTH, Feb. 18. Medical history was made at New PlymQuth when for the iirst time in New Zealand mass radiography for Enropeajis was undertaken by the mobile N-ray unit. Btationed on the; parking area pn the corner of Currie and Gill Btreets, the unit took micro lilms of the lirst batch of business house employees who resopnded to the recent invitation to have their chests examined. Perscyis examined eonstituted the lirst group of employees whose aeceptance of the privilege has been acknowledged by those in charge of the unit operation. Members of the tuberculosis association recently distributed 800 forins through the business area of the tovvn and all those lilled in will be collected shortly. Working from 9.30 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.111. on Tuesday s and Thursdays, the unit is expected to"~ deal with 2UU persons a week to begin with but later it is hoped to step the number up to 400. The town is to be zoned and other sites from which the uuit will operate will be chosen. A prerequisite in the sites is that they must be fairly Jevel and in a fairly quiet loeality. Diseussing the object of the photographs, Dr. E. P. Allen, radiologist at the New Plymouth hospital, who is medical director of the unit, emphasised that it was to sift the questionable cases from the clear. Where the sinai) filin siiggested the nued for an examination in greater detail the person con cerned will be asl-ied to attend at the New Plymouth hospital for the taking of a larger fllm. Should that disclose the need for medical adviee, a visit to a' doctor will be suggestod.