THE CANCER GERM.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1925, Page 1

THE CANCER GERM.

OKEAT MAGNIFIC'ATION. [Australia A N.Z. Cable Association ] LONDON, July Id. The achievement of Dr Dye and All' Barnard in discovering the cancer jronil was made possible hy Air Barnard's invention of the Eltra-Alicro-scopic. the ultra violet rays, and the X-Rays. A scientific writer says:—“ Ihe process is perhaps host described as a. special method of Holding a film of liquid under obsorvalion. 'l’he 11tra Aficroscope’’ has enabled the scientists, with the help of the rays to photograph a virus which cannot be .seen, and is only made apparent by the film by Ihe disturbance caused to a beam of light. The specimen is subjected to the most powerful posI sible magnification and, despite tinfact that there is nothing visible, it is photographed by tlie rays. ITofeseor Lazarus Barlow an authority says: - “If the discovery passes all tests it. will In- the greatest single achievenieiit in cancer research. A\ e can then proceed on the next step in the direction id' discovering a cure." • The- ■•Morning I’osi" says :- -“The public must, remember that the researches hy Air Barnard though immensely valuable, are researches in the domain of pure science, and not of therapy. It was already fairly certain that cancer could he attributed lo no extrinsic specific cause. Tt is now discovered that 1 here is a certain tilt ra-microseopic virus which is the causation of cancerous and allied growth, hut which is capable of producing a new malignant growth only in conjunction with already infected tissue. This docs not carry us very far from the noii-scicutilic viewpoint. Death itself may some day prove 1.0 lie an ull ra-iuicriwopir virus, capable of isolation hv micro-photo-graphy. We shall not on that account. jump to the conclusion that immortality is at hand. . DISCOVERERS’ CONTUSIONS. ■LONDON, July Mil According Lo “The l.ancet," Dr. (lye’s conclusions on cancer are:—First.—All malignant new growth contain an ultra-microscopic virus, or group of viruses, which can he cultivated. This applies to the carcinomata and sarcomata of fowls, mice, rats, dogs and mail. The virus prob ably resides within the cells of neoplasms. Secondly. -The cancer virus alone, washed free from all adherent material. does not produce a tumour when injected, or even a visible lesion. Thirdly.- When the virus is injected together with t lie virus of free extra! Ls of tumours, the virus produces a malignant new growth. Ihe extracts therefore, contain a substance which Dr five calls the “specific factor." enabling the virus to attack and transform the cells of the injected animal into cancer cells. Fourthly.- There is no species, or specificity, so far a> the virus is concerned. h.'caU'C the tumours can lie obtained in olio species of animals with the virus from a tumour of another species. Fifthly,-—The -.peciii,- sector shows a very strict .specific oi the species, lo produce malignant new growths in a mouse, it- i- necessary to use the specific factor from a mouse tumour: whereas the specific factor from a chicken tumour is inollecttve. | Sixthly. There is probably also a strict specification u! tissue for a specific factor. Hitherto only sarcomata has been obtained, and only with a mixture of the virus and a specific factor from sarcomata, not from carcinomata. “The Lancet" says that Dr dye's experiments do not contain any suggestions for the cure of cancer, hut they point the way to further biochemical work, while strikingly reconciling mil' ll conflicting theory. Dr. dye. in an interview, has declared that he must not raise false hopes. The cure for cancer still remains to he found, but certain definite results have boon obtained. BERLIN. July 10. Professor Neusel, head of the Koch Institute, said the claim substantiated by British Afedieal science deserves to be congratulated as one of the most brilliant achievements over seen. SPAHTJNGER’S SERFAL LONDON. July 14. A meeting of the TTouse of Commons Agricultural Committee heard a report hy three members of the House who visted Geneva to investigate the Spahlinger treatment. It was decided to form a committee for further investigation. and to assist the committee in obtaining vaccine test treatment in England.