THE MEDICAL CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 834, 7 March 1903, Page 4

THE MEDICAL CONFERENCE

Per Press Association^ NELSON, last night. At the annual conference of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, the following resolutions

were passed “ Tfiat tiiis meeting respectfully, urges the Government to place all in. stitulions connected with the treatment of mental and bodily diseases under one Department, and to make provision for advanced cases of tuber culosis by erecting annexes to our present hospitals.” “That this meeting wishes to draw the attention of the Government to tile need of better ventilation on steamers and rail way carriages, apd they would suggest that the regulation against overcrowding he strictly carried out.”

“ That in the opinion of this meeting the Government should compel a notification i<y the owner of all cases of diseases ol the mammary ghind in eosys, the milk of which is used for human' consumption.” “ That this meeting strongly deprer cates the attack which has been made upon the Chief Health Officer and his assistants in Auckland while attempting to carry out the duties devolving upon them under the Public Health Act.” •f The attention of the Conference

having been directed to the publication in various newspapers of the colony of a paragraph setting forth the astounding information that scarlet fever is not infectious during the state of desquamation (peeling), it was unanimously resolved that in the interests of the public health the

paragraph should be publicly contradicted, as the evidence is conclusive that scarlet fever is_ infectious during the whole course of the disease in the peeling period.” A recent statement by Dr. Koch that in his opinion bovine tuberculosis was not transmissible to human beings was held to have been amply disproved by all the most eminent authorities. Numerous instances wev/i given by the medical practitioners present of cases in which the disease had developed apparently from drinking the milk of tubereulury cows (the sufferers in some instances dying after a very short illness). The system of blip inspection of cattle and dairies which /utd been inaugurated by the Government Would, it Was hoped, be extended and made mope regular. Animals proved to be diseased should, it was urged, be immediately slaughtered, and until it was possible to establish more regular and more frequent inspection of dairies, if there was the slightest doubt of the milk, it should be scalded. The next annual meeting is to he held at Wellington. The election of officers resulted President, Pr, W. 1:1. Collins (Wellington! ; editor of

journal, Dr. Mason (Wellington) ; secretary, Mr H. M. Gore (Wellington).

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