MEDICAL CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 5 March 1907, Page 2

MEDICAL CONFERENCE.

Per Press Association. Dunedin, Morch 4 l u; annual meeting of the Now Zealand branch of the British Medical Association was opened in Dunedin tliis evening, under the presidency of Dr | " ne ": of dunedin. In the 'presidential address, Dr Barnett made reference to the fact that at the present time unqualified practitioners had heir name, printed i a the telephone »ts, on the same page as and amongst umcs of qualified practitioners,'and that representations to the Departiiuit to have these name* removed met uth a refusal. The practice of chem- . I'iescribmg for serious ailments waa also animadverted upon, whilst it was lee.y admitted that the chemists of Ihe colony as a class were careful and competent for the work which they «ere qualihed aud registered to perI of"l) 0 „N le establial ' m£lnt °f a Bcnool ot Dentistry In connexion with the >ew Zealand University, and also a Uterinary fjchool were favorably reviewed, but dissatisfaction was expressed in connection with Friendly Societies—that well-to-do members of the boeieties should avail themselves oi the services of lodge doctors at orilinary lodge rates. Regarding hydatids disease ( Dr Barnett said that this was far more serious than was geuII ,l y wiisidcied. .For the five years »P to laoo there w«re 420 cases in New /.(■aland whilst for the following years «|>_ to 1905 the number of eases was 1 1», showing that the disease was increasing largely- Jt was, hoiwevter, rf!"o pointed out that during the ilvc years up to 1800 deaths from hydatids had been 71, whilst from 1800 to 1905 the deaths had been (>5, or a drop in Mortality from seventeen to nine per cent. it was pointed out that the disease of hydatids was only tansmitled through the facal matter of dogs, and that, therefore, the greatest care should be exercised l>y country people in legard to their supplies of drinkms Mater. ®