USE OF RADIUM RESTRICTED

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1931, Page 6

USE OF RADIUM RESTRICTED

ATTITUDE OF DEPARTMENT OUTLINED. TJMARU, October 20. The Director-General of Health (Dr W. IJ. Wait) has decided to recommend to the'Minister of Health the expenditure of £IOOO on the purchase of radium for the Timaru Hospital. Acquainting the South Canterbury Hospital Board of his decjs.cn in a letter read at to-day’s meeting, I)r .W,:itii. stated that the present knowledge of the leading authorities on radium treatment did not justify the Department permitting radium to he purchased by hospital boards generally, stocks meantime being limited to the four main centres. As soon as any definite advance was made in the use of radium, the Department would review its policy. Jn the meantime. Dr Watt suggested that the board should apply its special funds towards assisting suitable cases to obtain treatment in Christchurch. The board considered the refusal and decided to pursue the matter further.

An accompanying circular regarding the Department’s stand m the matter stated that while very definitely of opinion that', the emanation plant at Wellington should be maintained, the Department'ifpn Id net, at present, approve of The purchase of an emanation plant in . any other - part, of the Dominion. It was pointed out (that knowledge.in regard to rad'um and its uses was in a state of flux and the posi tion needed cl rifying as regards dosage, technique and the form in which the radium should be applied, before farther large sums were spent in purchasing additional supplies. Tne use of radium called for technical knowledge of a high order which, generally speaking, was not likely to be in the oossession of medical men other than those attached to the radiological department of the hospitals in the four main centres. “Tire letter is very definite. Tt is no use fighting the Department directly,” commented the chairman (Mr E. A. Macdonald, j