Cancer Considered by Hospital Board

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 901, 19 February 1930, Page 10

Cancer Considered by Hospital Board

COMMITTEE’S PERSON^ IMPORTANCE R£Co©fl^ Considering the cancer „ pasgn to be of such importance, the Auckland w* ta! Board intends to hold cial meeting on the eveni! Spe March 11 in connection with 9 .."' appointment of the C ar>r thj mittee. This decision was made h board yesterday afternoon a l report on work in connection t2! r • campaign had come forward t, nt4 * E. B. Gunson, who is ther*n! S! L " tive of the board on tie In his report. Dr. Gunson work from its beginning after .k to New Zealand in Februa" Mr. Sampson Handley of t ' So! Work was begun in Wellinzw 01 Dunedin, and about the mSS? 1929 it was proposed bv Dr and Dr. Johnson to begin' the Auckland Hospital The iT otk 1 medical staff of the pointed the committee for L r iu August. Dr. Gilmour w« eW 4 chairman, and others on the „ tee were Mr. Kenneth Macken,i?! A. McG. Grant. Dr. H. W. tvS'?!' M. A. Fairclough, Dr. T W son and Mr. Hardie Neil ‘ ‘ *** Referring to the need for th. appointrilent of the committeT Gunson gave it as his Ti ew « board that the present should, to ensure icy, have its six months’ term tended to a year. In a letter h, 5 board. Dr. Gunson mentioned tt. ‘ stncted accommodation\ at the V pital. Treatment by radium m the present had. he said, been » “ what haphazard, and cords could not be kept. QUESTIONS FOR BOARD Such questions and the whole , cer campaign could be discussed" the board with the honorary mil staff when the appointment of . committee was considered at the , proac-hing meeting, he said * t Mention was made bv Mr W w lace, chairman of the board, to a inadequate supply of radium The was authority to buy more and toh.T the supply reconditioned This h-” bearing on the cancer commh! which was undoubtedly doing lent. work. Mr. Wallace thoughtV question so important that the bote could well hold a conference with t! committee and the honorary staff Wallace agreed with Dr. 6unso„ steps to ensure continuity of Z policy of the committee. Dr. Gunson also raised the posub lty of augmenting the membership the committee. If the cancer <£- paign developed, as it was expect, to do, there would be considered capital expenditure. Questions tth» would present themselves would tthe possibility of controlling the vcby the board itself and the resnor bility. “Does the question warrant a m cial meeting of the whole board’ asked the chairman. Dr. Gunson: Yes.. I think it doe Mr. Wallace then moved the adc-. tion of Dr. Gunson’s report and , decision to call a special meetinisthe occasion of determining the met bership of the committee for the st proaching term.

RADIUM CONVINCES

DR. GUNSON REVIEWS CAMPAIGN In his report on the cancer caw paign to the Hospital Board, Dr E. B. Gunson said the cancer committee, as a result of its ex perience, was convinced of value of radium in treating ce' tain cases. An augmented and improved ply of radium was anxiously await* Radium was by no means a uniTersa ; cure ajid did not replace manyofti' ; old surgical and other methods. Tbr : had not been Tull realisation in & j past of difficulties in the proper *[• - plication of radium. Improved ted-j nique in the past five years, panic* larly on the surgical side, had caifc for greater study and knowledge. To assist the committee, staf i* provements would be required auß» full-time registrar might .be waav eventually. The work increased er i week and more accommodatiol ** required for patients and staff. In practice, the question of rei* tionship with minor hospital boards* the province had been raised. 1* committee thought it should dra»s? a report, brief and provisional fortiH moment, for the guidance of boards and their superintend?!! Superintendents would be able ® judge cases in which journeys p Auckland would be necessary. Great increases in the work inevitable. It became cumulatite * the number of old cases for review increased. The aims were' collect information and to make 1 special study of the disease to pile records of incidence of the ease in the population generally, & dence in families and special lot* ties, history of each lesion, metb# of treatment and results, and, to make available a conference several authorities before treatnx® is decided upon. It was felt that, in New Zeabs* where there were great difficulties carrying out accurate laboratory* search, the best contribution would be more thorough study d® clinical and the therapeutic aspect Perhaps in cancer the need conference of several authorities the treatment was of all stages. Diagnosis, prognosis** treatment were questions to vi pathologists, surgeons, peutists, physicians and special* could make contributions.