MEDICAL CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 333, 21 October 1908, Page 5

MEDICAL CONGRESS.

' - . FALLING'BIRTH RATE. THE MOTIVE: A FINE DISTINCTION. {BI TELEGKAI'U —riiESS ASSOCIATIUN—COI't KIOUT.) Melbourne, October 20. Professor H. B, Allen, in his presidential address at the Medical Congress, said the fall of '.tlia birth rate had been deplorable. Speaking generally, the fall had not been noted so much in regard to the highest or the lowest •ranks of society, but was strongly marked in regard.to the middle classes. Australasian statistics, ho added, reflected only too faithfully this widespread tendency, though since 1903 the tide had appeared to be slowly turning. As far as this downward movement represented an increased sense of responsibility on the part of parents, some extenuation might be pleaded, but, so far as it implied unwillingness to accept responsibility, it only deserved unqualified condemnation. In connection with the saving of child life, Baid the professor, a moro cheery tale was to'bo told. Ho rejoiced at tho progress in Australia in regard to legislation for infants, but added that much more required to be done. , In late year 3 thcro had been a great reduction in the death rato from tuberculosis. A COLONIAL PROFESSOR. Professor H. B. Allen, President of tho present. Australasian Medical Congress, v/as oorn fct Gselong, Victoria, in 1851, and was educated at Melbourne University, whero ho graduated M.D. in 1878 and B.S. in 1879. Since 1882 he has beon Professor of Pathology in tho . University of Melbourno and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. Ho is a trusteo and ex-president of th? Medical Socicly of Victoria, and was a member of the Tuberculosis in Cattle Board (VicWrriii) in 1584-5; President of tho Koyal CeraminsioTt on the Senitary State of Melbourne lntercol»ni.yl "Rabbit Commission lii?vi; sad ccnrnl fwcretury of the Intercolonial Uoiirei Crrjj,Tr~, II*!. At his instance tile Ut-aoia! if Hie;,! OinsciJ in England rccognisutl (lis nisdicai etfTrm of *lbonrnc, and ho was luum.4f the first p?rv,n registered in the United Kingdom purely on a colonial medical qualification. lie created tho Museum of Pathology in tho University of Melbourne, and has wntt3ii a -number of rejw.'tp lo the Victorian Government and scientific napors.