The Surgeon’s Knife.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1922, Page 3

The Surgeon’s Knife.

* ( AS (T.STOT)IAN OK -MOi'.Al.S. , | !!Y TKI.KC.IIAIMI —I*KP, PltHSf ASSOCIATION] j CHIMSTCHUHCM, Oct. iM. f At llie North Caiitcrlnir.v Hospital Board meeting to-day, Mr E. Horrell quoted a liondon cablegram of October Kith, giving Justice Boehe’s coiiinieuts ] on epileptics. Me wept on to say that ] judging by his experience as a member ol the Benevolent ' nmmittoe, a lot of children were being brought into the world who would he better unborn. They were a menace to society, and lie thought the matter should he none into thoroughly by the medical profession. Dr P. C. Fenwick said the .indue had said that doctors could do a great deal of good. They could not carry out the operations suggested, unless they were given full legnl power. At Durham some years ago, the late Mr Seddon had signed a. request to him that Inshould take a hoy into the hospital and 4 aerate on him. 'this was done, with the hoy’s consent. Tim operation was I painless, and the result was that the i hoy had been debarred from liringing ’ decent'rate children into the w oil:!. In : ! giving his consent. Mr Seddon had. ■! done a great thing. It wa- a pity, in ■ this beautiful country, Hint degenerates were being allowed to pass on . their failings to the next generation. "Doctors, he said, could do nothing unless the women of New Zealand voted them the power. The men had not taken the trouble. If the law would send to the hospital for operation any man convicted of assault on children, the crime would, vanish entirely after the first operation. Mr W. E. f.eadlev moved that the matter he referred to the Hospital fomniittee with a view to making recommendations’to the Government, not only in connection.with epileptics, but • in connection with, people suffering > from certain diseases. The motion was carried.