THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2514, 15 July 1915, Page 6

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

Sir,—Perhaps you will be good enough! '' to permit mo to point .out some facts which should be clearly; uiiderstood by; v. your' readers beforo they pass judgment 1 —either friendly or adverse—-on tho - attitude adopted by., tho present administrators—political and executive—in • thd Department of Public Health towards the Wellington exccutivo of the, British , Medical Association. 1. The -Ministers of Defenco andPub-'-lie Health are doing their best (a best which may or may not be improvable v by their non-responsible critics).for the medical requirements of the Expeditionary Forces .and the public generally.. 2. The medical officers of, the Public HealthiDepartment are neither inexperienced nor ignorant men, either clinical- ; ly' or scientifically. < It - may .'bo true thatoneof your correspondents (a Wellington doctor), is corrcct in saying that Dr. Valintine is not even a member of tho'B.M.A; ; but that should not'pro- ' veiit 'him from making 'suitable arrangements for the medical 'well-being of the peoplo of the Dominion. 3. Neither' Dr. Yaluitirie .nor .-.-the. B M;A.. nor "A 'Wellington Doctor, • can correctly say that: his °r theu' pa> • tieular views aro really, those of .tho profession as a wholo. • . - TVre are other medical men jnro arej, , to say the least .of. it, as'.well, trainedand experienced as those enrolled in the., B.MiA. of'.- Now Zealand, .whose .views are not necessarily represented by.jatber. Pr. Valintine or the. 8.M.A., '..These,., men, it is to be presumed, have as much right ,to be consulted about medical matters generally, as .tho local branch ior the efcccu tive of. the ■ 8.M.A,, should , < tho need arise for such consultation. At present. no such need arisen. - ■When.it does so:arise it will be time enough. to find fault if those in responsible and trying positions fail to obtain ■the .best available