MEDICAL SCIENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 191, 11 February 1914, Page 2

MEDICAL SCIENCE.

now IT is ADVANCIXC. QI'ACKKUV CDXDKMNKI). j Uy 'J.olograph—l'ics.s AsmK-hiliun. Auckland, Mondnv. In his presidential addn-s in connection with the opening of the Mmlinil Congress, Dr. I'urchas dealt with very many subjects in ;ui interesting way, reviewing modern advancement of medicine iind surgery, lie said that in tie.laili'i' lii-.incli extraordinarily good work was being done at pre.-ent. In I lie field of physiology great changes had taken place.,and, in fact, in two years' lime a text-hook of physiology hecanie obsolete, so great was progress made. The trend of this marvellous 'progress j in unravelling the mysteries of nature j was that they were coming nearer to : the realm of preventitive disease. ! Hygienic, measures, prophylaxis an.l | treatment had already increased the dii- | ration of life, as was proved hy statistics. Who could toll, lie asked, if it. would not come to pass that they should attain the age of 10l> veal's, or even I 150 ywirs, before lliey began to feel the march of time upon them? The president went on to express the opinion that the (iovernnmnt of Xe'.v Zealand did well when il passed tic Infant Life Protection Act. Trior to the passing of the Act one of the saddest duties a medical man had was to he called to attend one of the many boarded-out children. No mailer what instructions were given, nor what >■'■

forts Hie doctor made, he had tin* mortification of seeing tlio child fade away till il eventually died. Now, since tlic passing of the Infant Life Protection Act, it was tlic rarest thing to have mortality unionist those eliihlren, and each one saved was a distinct asset to the State. Referring to the many recent advances in bacteriological science, Dr. l'urchas drew attention to the wide field for investigation and distinction that still remained for somebody. Although so much was known about many diseases, there was a loner list ot specific infections which, like the poor, they had always with them, whose | micro-organisms had not vet been (lisj covered. They were still on the list i of •'wanteds," and included such familiar friends as mumps, measles, chickenpox, rheumatism, smallpox, and a host of others.

"In these gol-rich-quick times,* 'proceeded Dr. Purehas, "the all-absorbing topic that engages the mind, not only of our own people in tin-so young States, but also of those of the old communities, is (.he accumulation of wealth, and

the enjoyment of luxury. The medical journals in England and in Ikosc States ■have, for years demanded an investigation into quackery by a t'oviil Commission. The worst phase of quackery is the. leaching and practice of limitation of families. As pathological study is indispensable to the treatment of disease, so the work of such a Commission could not fail to present a statement of (his, the grcaUst possible national trouble. According to the L-in-ucet, quackery has destroyed more in ! Circat Hrilain than the sword, famine I and pestilence united, and never was there a period in the history of British medicine at which the force and trui'i of this opinion was more obvious'than at this dav."

The president then quoted from Roger William-.. KK.I.'.S., of London, who, in reference to Australia, wrote as follows:—"l'nder the inlluence of socialistic ideas, immigration is discouraged, although the declining birth-rate has already fallen to such an extent as to endanger the future of the race. Tims the popnlaton is about stagnant, and it contains an unduly large proportion of adult and elderly persons! Owing to the cheapness of meat and the gluttonous habits of the people th:amount consumed her head is exceedingly high. I'nder these circumstances the tuhercule mortality has diminished, while the evidence of cancer has greatly increased. In New Zealand, where the conditions of existence and social evolution resemble those of Australia, the .leading morbid tendencies are also somewhat similar. Cancer and insanity have increased, and are increasing, whii'o tubercle is declining. The people are prosperous, with a diminishing birthrate, and immense quantities of llcsh food arc consumed."