SURGERY.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1925, Page 4

SURGERY.

PUBLICITY AND DISKASI-

LONDON, Kepi. 22

Mr E. R. Flint, a well-known Leeds surgeon puts forwards the suggestion that his profession should lie made more popular by broadcasting the value of surgery. In an article in the “British Medical .limrual” he daelares that all physicians and surgeons must feel much dissatisfaction with the present stale of things. Statistics show that a distressingly large proportion of operations are on patients who have not acted in lime, and Mr Flint quotes the Regisir/ir-tienc-ral's figures on acute appendicitis deaths. ’lbis tear ol trie surgeon in the general mind should be combated, as usually the mischief is done, before the patient gels to the doctor.

“The grc-at field tor education,’ writes Mr Flint, “lies in this direc-ton, mill hitherto no attempt has been made to tinkle it with energy and determinal i llll , I believe that the broadcasting of indisputable elementary facts would produce an immediate and extensive permeation which would have immense iienelit. A person appointed by a responsible hody, stieh. as the Ministry i■ f Health, would be listened to very carefully, for discussions on health are the most enthralling of all topics to a large section of the community.”

‘it in a tradition of medicine to condemn advertsement by its practitioners. lint it seems to me a calamity that elementary knowledge of an official kind should be withheld Iron) the public. while pernicious statemen's on behalf of quack remedies are allowed to me pmblished whole-ale." "In the distant future the need for surgery will no doubt, steadily dimioisb as the efficiency of preventive medicine anil education increases; but fbis is not the trend of affairs at present.” Mr Flint believes that it should be the aim of surgeons to do all in their power to remove from the public mind the widespread terror of operation, beat of death is at the root of this terror, and much good would accrue 1 1 Cre tiom the occasional surgeons relinquishing their efforts to perform serious operations; this is work for professed surgeons. through whose hands such cases are constantly passing, and whose results are. therefore, better. Mr Flint has held many important official positions in the North of Kupland. and is the author of several surgical treatises. Commenting on this statement. !)t Alfred Cox. medical secretary of the British Medical Association, emphasised the wisdom of reserving broadcasting to those subjects recommended by the Ministry of Health. ... ••’While we recognise." be said, -tliat there are occasions when medical men should speak to the public or use the columns of the daily Press to reach them, we take the view that it is betthat they should do so under the auspices of an approved professional body.”