MEDICAL PROBLEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1923, Page 4

MEDICAL PROBLEMS.

acstkalian and n.z. ca-ele association, MELBOCRXE. Sept. 13. In his presidential address at (lie Medical Congress. T)r Syme referring to tin? ravages of venereal disease, said it was estimated that thirty per cent, of the population of Australia was alTectcd by sueh diseases, this representing an ecouoinie loss r>| fifty millions sterling anually. Despite the profession having made known the discovered remedies and preventive measures, these diseases ravaged the community just the same, causing infinite misery to thousands of innocent people, including children, and all heir,use individual members of the pnblie would not make use of the knowledge given them, and would not exercise self denial or self con t rnl. Referring to the di'lirallies surrounding the diagnosis and treatment ot cancer. lie d "-hired that one reason why it so often he- omns so firmly established as to he practi—dlv incurable, was that, except oo: a-.ie’-.allv in its last stages, it was generally rundes-c Au early, raoical operation slid held out the most hope, 'flu- essential thing was an early diagno-is. Dealing with the pi-oldem of the feebleminded. In* said that, it seemed, on biological evidence, that, sterilisation was- one ot the most scientific and laiional methods of preventing sonic of the great economic loss and social disaster produced hv the rauid mutip-li-cation ot i he l'ii.i!. fie ikd u -’t claim that, sterilisation Mould abolish mental deficiency. nor tliat it was the onlv measure reiourcd. Shy-Tcgaiion ttnd restraint. u it Ik proper (-are, were necessary. It was laud to train detective i-1 1 iI• 1! -• n to ih age ot I s or 111. and lh -1! let them I in- ■ 111 society. He did not recommend ougenica! sterilisation should he enforced by law. except perhaps on lla.se convicted of sexual ounces. Voluntary sterilisation, with tin- consent of all i one -mod. could and should he tried On tin- subject of increasing the duration of human life, he asked, even k it. were possible, would it he desirable, unless youth could he retained as well:' ■Researches, however, suggested that

not only might life bo prolonged, but even youth restored, by the surgeon’s art.