H.—3l

Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer. —This hospital still continues to perform its valuable function for special cases. Difficulty h»s been experienced in meeting the demands for the accommodation of women patients. Pukeora Sanatorium, W aipukurau.—A feature of the administration of this sanatorium to which Dr. Maclean refers is the increased length of stay of patients undergoing treatment to ensure a greater chance of permanent arrest of the disease. Since 1923 the average length of stay has practically been doubled. Otaki Sanatorium and Hospital.—The induction of artificial pneumothorax as a form of treatment at this institution has met with a distinct measure of success in selected cases. Hospitals administered by Hospital Boards.—Full particulars in reference to these hospitals will be published as an appendix to this report as soon as the statistical data is available. SECTION 4.—MISCELLANEOUS. Board op Health. Quarterly meetings of the Board of Health were held during the year, a variety of matters being dealt with. Requisitions were served upon a number of local bodies requiring the carrying out of sanitary works. Other matters dealt with included medical research, water and drainage schemes for Auckland and suburbs ; regulations controlling hairdressers' shops ; the subdivision of hospital districts ; the control of venereal diseases, &c. The thanks of the Government are again due to the members of the Board for the willing manner in which they give their services, and for the able advice tendered by them at all times. Medical Practitioners Act, 1914. Four meetings of the Medical Council were held during the year. The following table shows from a statistical point of view the number of additions to and removals from the Medical Register as the result of the Council's work during the year : — 1924. 1925. Number on register on Ist January .. .. .. 1,138 1,204 Number added during year .. .. .. .. .. 85* 78f Number removed during year .. .. .. .. 19 71 Number on register at end of year .. .. .. .. 1,204 1,211 The new arrangement provided for in the Medical Practitioners Amendment Act, 1924, under which the medical registration duties previously performed by the Registrar-General were transferred to the Department of Health, has worked entirely satisfactorily. The Medical Council held a number of disciplinary inquiries during the year, two cases having been dealt with under the Special powers given to the Council in the amendment of 1924. Towards the end of 1925 the Council, with the consent of the Senate of the New Zealand University, undertook an inspection of the work of the Medical School in Dunedin. The Council's report was in due course forwarded to the Senate. Masseurs Registration Act, 1920. During the year the Masseurs Registration Board has met as required. A special meeting was held in Dunedin, and a conference was held between the authorities of the Massage School and the Board concerning staffing of school, conducting of examinations, and various other matters. The Massage School was inspected thoroughly. The register of qualified masseurs contains 417 names. Plumbers Registration Act, 1912. Three meetings of the Plumbers Board constituted under this Act were held during the year. Examinations under the Act were held in June and November. At the June examination 147 candidates presented themselves for examination, the results being that sixty-three candidates passed in the theoretical and thirty-three in the practical, whilst forty-four qualified for registration and where placed on the register. At the November examination 221 candidates presented themselves for examination, the results being fifty-five candidates passed in the theoretical and sixty-three in the practical ; sixty-one qualified for registration and had their names duly recorded on the register. To date the names of 1,700 plumbers have been entered in the register, and thirty-five removed through death. Food and Drugs Act. Under the administration of Dr. Frengley the Food and Drugs Division has been particularly active. During the year the regular sampling activities have been well maintained. Attention has been given to the allegedly growing practice of the refilling of bottles of well-known brands of spirits exposed for sale in licensed bars. The Department realizes that the hotelkeeper who descends to this nefarious practice would do so with the object of increasing his profits, and that the cheaper the substitute the greater would be the incentive. Consequently, by the nature of the " blend "or the " draught " likely to be used in refilling the possibilities of deleterious effects must be considered. Special raids were made in Auckland and Dunedin, and as a result a number of prosecutions are to be taken shortly, on the grounds that in some instances (standard whisky has been diluted with water, while in other cases bottles bearing well-known 'brands have been filled with whisky similar to the draught whisky stored by the seller.

* Includes 67 with New Zealand qualifications. f Includes 50 with New Zealand qualifications.

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