The Daily News. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1914. THE MEDICAL CONGRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 196, 17 February 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1914. THE MEDICAL CONGRESS.

The meeting of the Medical Congress in Auckland last week was a notable event I j in the history of the year—notable not only from the fact that the attendance of delegates constituted a record for , a Dominion conference, but also for the ; wide range of the discussions and the outspoken freedom with which tb& learned scientists assembled attacked the problems presented by present-day conditions. Papers were read by men eminent in the realm of science, and besides affording the delegates the valuable opportunity of getting into touch with modern thought and theories, the Congress cannot fail to' have exercised a remarkable influence for good amongst the people. Much of the discussion was doubtless of too technical a nature to convey its full I message to the lay mind, but a great ileal of invaluable information has unquestionably found its way through the press to the people. Never before in this country has such a full report of the proceedings been placed upon record, and it is to be hoped that many of the suggestions made will fmd support from the press and public men of the Dominion. The discussion upon the treatment of mental diseases, for instance, was a valuable contribution, iiasmucU that it concentrates attention upon the latest methods of dealing witi those unfortunates amongst us who are no longer responsible for their own existence. Many of the old oallous, not to say brutal, systems of dealing with the insane are now being set aside for more humane and enlightoned treatment. It is, indeed, regrettable that our statistics show an ever-increasing percentage of i»sasity, but it is aa unpleasant fast that has to be faced, and the best wc can do is to see that the unfortunate inmateß of our mental hospitals receive the most advanced treatment which science can recommend. The burden upon the country i.s doubtless a heavy one, but it is the duty of the Government to see that the hospitals are properly staffed and that the' wretched overcrowding disclosed of late should onoe an< for all be put a stop to. The Congress laid stress upon the necessity for accommodation for "borderline" cases and the subdivision of institutions into numerous departments. The carrying out of such recommendations is olearly imperative if the heat results are to be obtained from our mental hospitals, aad it is unfortunately im- { possible under present conditions. Tho { Congress not only dealt comprehensively I with the treatment of mental diseases,! but it boldly attacked the question of eugenics, and the wisdom I of allowing tho feeble-minded untrammelled liberty to reproduce their species. "The sexual instinct in particular," says a report, "is apt to be utterly uncontrolled in feeble-minded persons, and the results need no reiteration. Undoi&tcdly a very large proportion of our hab- ' itual criminals, drunkards, prostitutes J and wastrels are really feeble-minded, and if money were spent in preventing by detention instead of making futile e»deavors to cure by imprisonment and fine this mass of vice and squalor il would be more happily employed and ' would go farther." The Congress also faced the question of venereal disease* with a direct force which must have come as a shock to the people of this country—«iot as a shock to any mock modesty with regard to the treatment of this subject, but as a startling revelation to those who have been lulled to a sense of false security from this great scourge. The subject is neither a pleasant nor an easy one to discuss in the columns of the public press, but it is unquestionably a duty to the country to bring home to the people a realisation of the lurking dangers of our pre-sent-day conditions. The figures published in the report on this subject are positively astounding, and imperatively demand the attention of our public men. The question requires the deepest consideration and enquiry. The Congress has ruthlessly torn aside a veil which has been hiding from us. a condition of affairs which can only end in disaster for the nation. The figures published, unfortunately, do not tell tho whole story, for wo are told that if all doctors having cases under their observation had reported the total would probably have been doubled. These facts as revealed cannot be overlooked. Thi evil must be assailed with courage and determination. The recommendation* of the Congress have provided a sound working basis for future action, and it 13 to be hoped that before long they will bear good fruit. Valuable contributions to the discussions were -ilso made upon the health of children and recommendations made for the improvement of our system of medical inspection of schools. The paper on "Eyesight in school children" ahould be exceptionally useful. It is quite a common thing nowadays to see quite young children wearing glasses, and it i.s inora than probable that bad sight in many cases has been brought about by eyestrain in the schools. References mads to the scourge of tuberculosis are not encouraging. The disease still bulks large as a "curse of civilised man." In Australia alone the annual deaths from this cause total :I70(I, and there is undoubtedly plenty of incentive to urge on tho work of prevention. The future, l however, is not devoid of hope. Every advance in sanitation, wc arc told, does its share towards prevention, and the attack on the disease has of late been more direct, and the full weight of scientific knowledge ii being brought to hear upon the subject. Let us hope ' that success will eventually be tho re-

ward. Taken all round, the Congress has been of great educational value to the country, and it is to be hoped the Government will make opportunity to net upon its many important recommendations.