MEDICAL RESEARCH.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1926, Page 4

MEDICAL RESEARCH.

INTERESTING- REVIEW BY l)R -MAGUIRE. AUCKLAND, .Jan. -JO. A report in the various aspects of the English hospital system and modern medical practice in Britain was presented to the Auckland Hospital Board by the medical superintendent. Dr C. E. Maguire, who visited Europe last year.

Dealing with Lbc subject of cancer, Dr Maguire staled that certain forms of rancor were actually being produced experiment idly by various agent s, which might be termed “tissue irritants." Suelt substances had been used as acetylene, tar. Californian petroleum, and tars derived from yeast, and Iranian skin. The animals chiefly employed in these experiments were mice. A very active worker in this field was Dr Ketmaway, of the Cancer Hospiatl research laboratories, whose father and uncles were resident tor years in Canterbury, New Zealand. Another New Zealander working in the same field at the Mill Hill laboratory of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund was Dr A. M. Begg, brother of Dr Begg, of Pukekohe. He had made important contributions to the scientific reports of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund on the dissemination of far cancer in mice.

Dr Gye’s researches went to prove that the virus of wnner was a filler passing germ, plus an accessory chemical factor, the nature of which was at present not determined. This opened up a new avenue of investigation along the line that cancer was a parasitic disease. It was to be hoped that further research would bring us nearer and nearer to the time when the causation of cancer would ho thoroughly understood and when this fell disease would lie under control. Much Lfod yet to he done. Tt was, however, a satisfaction to know that not only in Great Britain but. also in all civilised r -entries scientists were working stratum isly to arrive at a solution of this important problem. Only one hospital in London was solely devoted to cancer. That was the Cancer Hospital in Fulham Road. In research laboratories a great deal of work was being done towards elucidating the effects of radium and Xrays on normal and cancerous tissues. The exciting factors in the causation of cancer had been attributed to many sources which had each in turn lad its strenuous advocates. Chronic irritation by certain substances had been proved to be an exciting ■.uisc. Articles of diet had frequently been blamed. The harmless tomato, lor example, had come under the ban. Lately it had been staled that it was pus-

siblo the increase of cancer was ;e'ociated with the sunless condition of i.fe. A good deal can be said in favour or the statement that errors in diet may he a potent exciting cause. The report continued: That a diet of too much meat may be deleterious is supported by the fact that among native races who are vegetarians cancer is almost unknown. Whatever tl e cause may tie, it is a matter of common sense that any habit or indulgence that tends to lower the body’s power of resistance would be a eoii'.nl.iito'y factor and that the nearest approach to the simple life—a difficult matter in those days of flurry—would go tar toward diminishing the risk of contracting this terrible disease. Therefore, it is wise to preach a doctrine of moderation in all things.

Tn the treatment of cancer there were three main methods—surgery, deep X-ray therapy and radium. Surgery had long held the field, and there were no means at present known which had superseded the extirpation of cancerous growths in their early stages by the surgeon’s knife. When the growth had advanced beyond a certain stage it might be an impossible matter to remove it bv means of surgery, and

other means bad to be found to improve or alleviate the condition. These means were obtained in deep X-ray and radium. The action of massive doses up to 2-10.000 volts of X-rays and of radium were very similar, the latter being the more powerful. The best results appeared to have accrued from a combination of the two. Inquiries concerning the various deep Xray apparatuses in use went to show that one of the best was the Saiffe deep therapy machine, of French origin, which cost £IOO. Among other treatments noted by Dr Maguire was the use made of sunlight, also light from artificial sources iiT the treating of certain cases. At Lord Mayor Treloar Cripples Hospital and College at Alton, Hampshire, It

had .keen found that certain patients appeared to tolerate light from artiiic'ial sources better than natural sunlight. It was of great benefit in some cases of tuberculosis of the spine with extensive abscess formation. Run in connection with Alton was a seaside branch at Hayling Island, about forty miles away, where the treatment by strong ultra-violet rays light was combined with sea. baths. Marvellous lesults were being obtained at these two institutions. An interesting fact reported at the congress of the Royal Institute of Pu’olie Health, held at Brighton, was that sunlight, either natural or artificial, when properly administered might have a defintely beneficial effect on mental activity. It. was found that children, handicapped in school work by illness, when cured with the aid of sunlight overtook and even outdistanced their classmates. The term “sunlit minds” had been used in those eases. The institutions at Alton and Hay ling Island were under tile very able administration of Sir Henry Canvain who, as an exponet. of light tieatwent in surgical tuberculosis, bad won a world-wide reputation.