CANCER RESEARCH

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1929, Page 8

CANCER RESEARCH

UNUSUAL RESULTS,

VJ CTO Hi AX DOCTOR’S WORK

SYDNEY, Feb. 14

Unusual results, said to lie of great importance in the further study of the incidence of cancer, have followed a prolonged enquiry by Dr T. Cherry, ol Melbourne, into the relation between cancer and tubercLsis shown in Mai statistics in a period of more than 8U years. Dr C'lierry published in 1920 the results of his examination of statistics tram Great Brirain. JJy tabu ating thedeaths from cancer and from tuberculosis he established the fact that in any year the sum of deaths from cancer aiid tuberculosis shown in vital ed a remarkably consistent proportion of the toai deaths of the pop-illation, although deaths iroin cancer were steadily increasing, while those from tuberculosis showed a corresponding regular decrease from 1871 to the time that his research was published. Following the more recent statistics, up to tne latest availab.e, those for 1927, i)r Cherry has now shown that this i-endency remains; there lias been a. further decrease in deaths from tuberculosis due to improved methods of diagnosis, and of treatment resulting 111 a greater percentage of cux'es, while me deaths from cancer have steadily increased. The increase in caneer has oeen directly proportionate to the decrease 111 the deaths from tuberculosis.

Dr Cherry has deduced from these interesting results that there was a definite relation between the two diseases, and that probably the after effect of a tubercle infection was to give to the patient a predisposition for v -iiiioer. it was explained that, according to Dr Cherry’s result, it was prooaule that most cases of tuberculosis wild) had been cured would give rise Lo cancer, if the body were invaded a sec..ml time by the tubercle bacillus. I his is a now and important aspect of the knowledge already available of the elfcots of certain irritants in causing cancer. Jt was long ago established that coal tar, certain aniline dyes, nicotine from tobacco smoking, and many other substances acted as irritants, which, acting on the cells in the body growing normally to replace waste tissue caused the cells to becopie' “rebels” and begin an active growtn. This growth, at first local, but later spreading throughout the system, and obstructing vital organs, is known as cancer. Dr Cherry’s results now suggest the tubercle naciilus as probably the most important and most general of this large list of cancer irritants. A ■ recent observation by Professor Ewing, of New York, who is now recognised as probably the greatest living pathologist, appears to confirm Dr Cherry’s conclusions. He lias noted that certain types of cancer in the lympth glands are unmistakable cancers in their late stages, but in the early stages are almost indistinguishable from tubercle growtn*. For the last three years Dr Cherry has been following his statistical work oy laboratory experiments The results of this section of bis work are shortly to be published and they ars eagerly awaited by members of the medical profession and bis lellow research workers. A leading Melbourne specialist has explained that Dr Cherry’s problem was to obtain an animal wuicli was susceptible to caneer and yet was not usually affected in the natural state, and which was at the same time not .seriously affected with tuberculosis. Working with mice, which will not normally contract tuberculosis, Dr Cherry made injections, of the tubercle bacillus beneath the skin. The irritation produced bv tlise bacteria caused cancerous growth in approximately 7': per cent of the treated mice although in mice kept under similar conditions, hut, net inoculated with tubercle the incidence of caneer was so low as to lie almost negligible. It is expected, therefore. that the full result of Dr Cherry’s work will do much to stimulate cancel research in Australia. It may bring Victoria into line with the other Statewhich have cancer research. For instance, in New South Wales the fund stands at £IOO,OOO, hut the endowment of this work in Melbourne has admitted of the employment of only one research worker, Dr Cherrv