Treatment of Cancer

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1921, Page 3

Treatment of Cancer

DISCUSSION ON RADIUM. uni run sfiitviofi telhcuams. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 7. In reference to the interview of Sir Thomas Parkinson at Auckland, in which he allegedly declared radium lu.u proved a failure. Professor Razarus Barlow, director of the Cancer Research Laboratories ol Middlesex Hospital, as the result of the continuous use of radium on sixteen cases, declares— "I was never more conlidcni that it is one of the greatest agents in the treatment of disease ever discovered. It has effected most remarkable results in cancer cases, though only known for twenty years, whereas the knowledge of surgery has been growing with the ages, yet who will declare that every surgical operation is a success. 1 believe we are only on th • threshold of the benefits accruing from radium.

Barlow has recently been conducting experiments of radium through which lie has made important extensions in | the knowledge ol its use. lie declares, that more research is wanted. Past I failures were not the lault ol radium j hut of the operators. I William Milligan of Manchester Radium Institute, expressed the opinion that Parkinson’s knowledge ol radium was not extensive. The evidence provided through th.' London and Manchester Radium Institute was quite contrary to Parkinson’s experiences. Apparently he was not acquainted wit l foreign literature, which showed ri distinguished continental surgeons had entirely discarded cutting, in favour • radium treatment.