MEDICAL CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1980, 10 February 1914, Page 8

MEDICAL CONGRESS

_ * _ STRIKING ADDRESS. RAPID MARCH OP SURGERY & RESEARCH THE COLONIES & CANCER. (By Ttlesrwh.—Press Jbiociation.) Auckland, February 9. Tho Australasian Medical Congress was formally opened for business at 11 o'clock this morning. Nearly 300 delegates wore present, and the president (Dr. A. C. Purchas) was in tho chair. Only formal business was done; A number of reports were received, and feferred to the sections of the congress which they affected. The report was received and adopted. Dr. Purchas briefly welcomed tho delegates to Auckland. Dr. J. A. Mac Donald, chairman of the British Medical Association, delivered an address on the "British Insurance Act and its effect on tho medical profession in Britain." In the afternoon the majority of the delegates were present at a reception in tho Exhibition grounds. This evening tho congress vfas formally opened by His Excelloncy the Governor, the Earl of Liverpool. Addresses of welcome were "Kiven by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey), tho Minister of Public Health (Hon. R, H. Rhodes), and the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr). Dr. Purchas then delivered a lengthy presidential address. Lengthening Life's Span. In his presidential address, Dr. Purchas dealt with very many subjects in an interesting way. Reviewing the modern advancement of medicine and surgery, ho said that, in the latter branch, extraordinarily good work was being dono. In the field of physiology, also, great changes had taken, place, arid, in fact, in two years' time a text book of physiology became obsolete, so great was the progress' made. Tho trend of this marvellous progress in unravelling the mysteries of Nature was that they were coming nearer • to the realm of prevention of disease. Hygiene measures, and prophylaxis had already increased the duration of life. This was proved by statistics.. WUo could tell, he asked, if it wonld not come to pass that / they should attain the age of 100 years or even 150 years before they began to.feel the march of time upon them ? Tho president went on to express the opinion that the Government of Now Zealand did well when it passed the Infant Life Protection Act. Prior to the passing of that Act one of the saddest duties which a medical man had was to- be called to attend one of the many boarded-out children. No matter what instructions we're giveii, nor what efforts the doctor made, he had tho mortification of seeing tho child fade away till it eventually died. Now, since the passing of the Act, it was the rarest.thing to have a mortal,ity amongst such children, and each one saved was a distinct asset to ths State. ', . • War on Quackery. Referring to the many recent advances in bacteriological science, Dr. Purchas drew attention to the wide field-for investigation, and the distinction that still remajned for somebody. Although so 'much was known about many, diseases, there was a long list of specific infections which, like the poor, they had always , with them., These were .infectious'whose micro , organisms had not'yet been discovered. They wore still on the list of "wanteds,"and included :-:'/such familiar friends as mumps, measles, chicken-pox, rheumatism, smallpox, and a host of others. "In these get-rich-quick times," proceeded Dr. Purchas, "tho all-absorbing topic that engages the mind, not only of our own people in these young States, but- also of those 'of the old communities is the accumulation of wealth and tho enjoyment of luxury. VThe .medical journals in England and in\ these States have for years demanded an investigation into quackery by a Royal Commission. The worst phase of quackery is the teaching arid practice of the limitation of families. As pathological study-'i-s indispensable to the treatment of disease, so'the work of such a commission could not fail to present a- statement of this tho greatest possible national trouble. . According to the 'Lancet,' quackery has , ,destroyed more lives in Great Britain than the sword, famine, and pestilence united, and never was , there. a period in tho historyof British medicine at which the force and truth of this opinion was more obvious than at this day." \ Socialistic Ideas and Cluttony. ' The president then quoted from Dr. Roger Williams,, F.R.C.S., of London, who had written in reference to Australia as follows:—"Under the influence of Socialistic , ideas immigration is discouraged, although the declining birthrate has already fallen to such an extent as to endanger the future of the race. Thus the population is about stagnant, and it contains an unduly large proportion of adult and elderly persons. Owing to the cheapness of meat and tho gluttonous habits of the people tho amount consumed per head is exceedingly high. Under these circumstances the tubercular mortality has diminished, while the evidence of cancer has greatly increased in Ne,w Zealand, where tho conditions of existence and social evolution resemble those of Australia. The leading morbid tendencies are also somewhat similar. "Cancer and insanity have increased, and . are increasing, while tubercle is declining. , The people are prosperous, with a diminishing birthrate, and immense quantities of flesh food are consumed." ' [ . MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. Auckland, February 9. The aun-ial meeting of the British Medical Association of New Zealand was held this morning. The outgoing president (Dr. Hathcrby, of Wanganui) inducted tho new president (Dr. W. H. Parkos, of Auckland) into.the chair, and tho ordinary business of tho meeting, including tho election of officers, was proceeded with. Dr. William ■living, of Christchurch, was elected president-ejeot for 1915, and it was decided that tho noxt annual meeting should be held at Christchurch.