CANCER DISCOVERY

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1925, Page 1

CANCER DISCOVERY

FULLER DETAILS

[Australia A X.Z. Cable Association,]

LONDON. July 17

Dr (Iye and Mr Bernard, voluminously describe their cancer discoveries in “The Lancet,” which pays a tribute to their brilliant services. It emphasises tlmi. besides paving a way for the rapid advance in the investigation into cancer, the new methods will be available for investigation into measles, ,small-pox, encephalitis and foot and mouth disease.

In charts and tables the whole report is couched in highly tcclinic-n! language, which is largely unsuitable for cabling. It shows that Dr (lye began his actual tests in June of 1923. In the conclusion. Dr five shows two rat tumours, one mouse carcinoma and one carcinoma from a human breast. All of these provided a factor which can replace the virus of Pe.vtonrimss tumour in the genesis of chicken sarcoma.

Dr (lye slates: -“The common factor of these four tumours is certainly a virus. The production of tumours with remole subcultures remains to be done.

Further it lias been shown tiial the virus alone is unable to bring out malignant transformation of cell adjuvant, which the cell defends and enables the virus to infect under natural conditions. The continued irritation of the tissue set up a state under which infection can ocelli'. The connection between the speeilie factor ol the tumour and tut irritant remains to lie investigated. Some of the known relatively unimportant irritants include coal tar am! parnliin oils. I lie virus probably lives ami multiplies in a cell provoking it to continued multiplication. The methods of our experiments, and their obvious extension, gives the means of classifying the viruses and ol investigation, oi" the nature of the speeilie factor, and of testing the suspected irritants, such as preservative foods, which max play a role in Ihe genesis of the tumour. Dr Dye and Air Bernard jointly contribute a note saying:—“Our belief that the small bodies seen and photographed are the virus depends partly upon the fact that control innoeulated tubes of medium which have been iuvarhily blank, and partly upon a correspondence between Hie miscroscopieal findings, and the results of our experiments upon animals, 'litis correspondence lias been so close that although final proof has not been attained, we are convinced that our conclusions ate sound. By final proof, we mean the cultivation of virus from a single colony. or, if possible from a single spin - wind, and the production of a titinmir from the culture thus obtained._ This work will be attempted when circumstances permit.

FULL STORY. NOT YET. LONDON. July 19tli

The “fluidity Times” says:-—"ft 'an coniidentitilly lie stated that Dr (»e and Air Barnard, even now have not told the full story. We believe they are working upon securing immunity against the organic and chemical agent which together produce Hie malignant, disease, ll is believed, in tlie ease ol chickens they have succeeded ill securing immunity, The technique of Dr Gyo and Mr Barnard is so highly individual that in the ease of unforseen happenings their methods would perish with them. The authorities are therefore collecting a body of young technical enthusiasts, who will absorb tbeir methods and he able to work their instruments.

Meantime interest increases in Ihe far-reaching advance of the treatment of smallpox ami kindred germ-carrying diseases, which Doctor .Merv.vn (Jordon is expected to reveal shortly as a- result of researches into cow pox and small pox viruses. lie has been engaged ilnce veal's in research work in the laboratories of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital on behalf of the .Medical Research Council, and will make it statement to the British Medical Association, this week. Dr Cordon said yesterday his report would not he comparable with Dr lives, i hough it may bring progress a little further. (I KRAI AX SCI KNT I ST'S COMMENT. HER I.jlX, July 20. Professor Blumenthal, Director of the Institute of Cancer Research at Berlin, guardedly comments on Dr five’s discoveries. Ho insists that in some cases of animal cancer, the action of parasites has been proved superfluous. Tar and arsenic. produced genuine enneer. .It- was not a unilotm illness.