The Cult of the Knife.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 152, 1 July 1904, Page 3

The Cult of the Knife.

CUT OH CURE. A DOCTOR'S CRITICISM ON THE CRAZE FOR OPERATIONS. (Per Press Association.) WANG AN Uf, June 30. An article by I)r. Hatherley on "Tho Lust for Operation," concerning a statement in which Mr Ell has given notice to ask the Minister for Public Health to cause an imjm'ry to be made, was read as a paper at the Hodical Congress. It is a caustic criticism and condemnation of alleged "surgical butchery." The congress decided that the paper should not be published, except in the Medical Journal but the Wangtmui Chronicle published tho full text on tho 21st June. The puitklieatian has created great local interest, many of tho doctor's assertions bordering on the sensational. The Chronicle also published a summary of the discussion which followed the reading of tho paper, in which practically all tho speakers endorsed Dr. Hatherley's statements. Dr. Collins (Wellington) said Dr. | Hatherley was to be congratulated l>y the profession generally for bringing the matter forward. Ho admitted that "there were many cases of appendicitis and cases in connection with kidney diseases where operations could very well be avoided." Dr. Coltyuboiin (J'unedini) went so far as to conclude that "operations were undertaken when there was no need for them." Dr. Mackenzie (Wellington) said In his own branch of surgery it was often the case that patients considered a doctor to be no good if he would not operate, and ho had had oases brought to him where, on his recommending certain breathing exercises for naval troubles, the parents had gone to another surgeon who hod satisfied them by an operation." Dr. Savage (Auckland) thought there >vas a certain amount of truth in some )>arts of the papor, not that operations were undertaken for profit but that a certain number of unnecessary operations were taken." Dr. Pollen (Wellington) considered "The wholo paper was justified by saw! was probably the outcome of a wave of over-operating which passed over New Zealand some years ago, and which he was glad to think was receding fast. If tho paper had been read four or live years ago it would have ten more useful as a warning to reckless surgeons."