MEDICINE ATTACKED BY HEALTH OFFICER

Evening Star, Issue 20132, 23 March 1929, Page 10

MEDICINE ATTACKED BY HEALTH OFFICER

A DOCTOR’S PROPER DUTY “ I should like, to sec hack in our midst the old-typo family doctor, who kept a careful watch. over the families under his care, but armed witli the most modern preventive weapons for .defending those under his care from being attacked by disease.” This aas a statement made by Dr J. Howard-3 ones, Medical Officer of Health at Newport (Mon.), in his presidential ad.dress to the annual meeting of the Society of Medical Officers of Health, in London. Lie attacked the system of affecting cures aith bottles of medicine, made a striking appeal to doctors to combine in the prevention of disease, and indicated a future in which there; would be a periodical medical examination of the general community. “There is a vast amount of aork to be done in the education of the public as to the true value of drugs in the euro of disease,” |;c said- “The Association of Insurance, Committees and others interested in the finances of the Insurance Act are seriously concerned about the largo increase in the cost of drugs, and the number of pioscrip--I.ions required by insured persons. The total is between forty and fifty million prescriptions per annum, A .MOUNT OU DRUGS.

“Tiic weight of 1 lio medicine dispensed in bottles in England and Wales in twelve months is at least 8,411 tons, and oilier items weigh at least 2,11)3 tons, a total of over 10,-500 tons of niediean Is dispensed among about 12,0U0,(XK.) insured people yearly. Remarking that the principle of periodical medical inspection now applied to the Army and Navy, school children, and, to a large extent, the expectant mother. Dr Howard-Jones said: "The extension of the principle of periodical medical examination of the general community for the preservation of health and the early detection of disease will naturally follow. “Public opinion is ripe for instruction in matters pertaining to the care of health. Health propaganda is becoming increasingly popular, in fact, there is a plethora or society engaged in such work, and attempts at coordinating their efforts seem to lead to a rapid increase in their numbers. MIDWIFERY TRAINING. On the subject, of medical training in midwifery, Dr Howard-Jones said; ■ It has been repeatedly stated in official reports thai/ the teaching of obstetrics and gynaecology at most of, if not all, the medical schools in Great .Britain is to be desired. Improvements have been instituted since 1922. hut even now, according to Dr Janet Campbell, the training in obstetrics compares unfavourably with the training in. say, general surgery, although a good knowledge of midwifery is essential to the future doctor, while lie may seldom practise major surgery. " The new curriculum in midwifery docs include a certain amount of training in ante-natal care. In view of the fact that tin; deaths from premature births and diseases in early in fancy in England and Wales exceed 25.000 per annum, this provision is not ‘ premature.’ “ .Midwifery in industrial practices is generally underpaid. If we arc to secure ante-natal and post-natal care then ilie question of remuneration will have to lie seriously reconsidered ; not only that, but the -public will have to be educated as regards the necessity for paying for preventive midwifery, and the State and local authorities will have to revise their present policies.”