RADIUM SUPPLIES

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1930, Page 6

RADIUM SUPPLIES

EXPERT’S ADVICE DESIRED. ?The centra] executive of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Canter Campaign has suggested to the Health Department that steps should, be taken to secure the services ol Dr. A. Burrows, radium adviser to. the Commonwealth Government. It is considered that in the four principal cities 01 New Zealand the supply of radium is defective either in quantity or in form. There i.s, in fact, a similar ■hortage of radium in England. His Majesty the King gave for the purchase of radium almost the whole of the very large sum which he received from the nation as a thanks-offc-ring on his recovery from his illness. It is in order to decide in what quantity, and in what form, further radium should be obtained, that the advice of such a distinguished expert as Dr. Burrows would, it is thought, be of great value. While the supply of radium in suitable form is inadequate, the treatment of cases has to be deferred, and very frequently the most effective known methods of utilising the substance cannot be used.

Dr Burrows prior to his Australian appointment, had a. distinguished career at the Manchester? Radium Institute. On Ids 'advice, and after consultation with local medical com, puttees, radium centres were established. in all the principal cities of: the Commonwealth. Provision was made, for the thorough and co-ordinated investigation of all cases of cancer attending these centres. The. original Cancer Advisory Committee recommended that the Commonwealth should purchase ten grammes of radium, six grammes of which were to be prepared in the forms recommended bv Dr Burrows ; and the remaining four grammes for research and mass treatment, and special purposes. The radium alone will cost £120,000.