THE RADIUM APPEAL.

Shannon News, 23 November 1923, Page 3

THE RADIUM APPEAL.

FIGHT AGAINST CANCER,

An appeal is being made,by an influential public spirited committee iq Wellington for £IO,OOO to provide a radium department at the Wellington Hospital. ; >So helpful has radium proved in the cure of incipient cancer, and .cam cerous growths, in the checking of the and the relief of jiain in advanced cases, that many modern hospitals throughout Europe are now provided with, or are providing, a- radium departpicnt for its treatment. In 1905 the people of Dunedin raised £2OOO and provided their hospital with a small quantity of radium, and further sums are being raised to increase the quantity of- radium. This has been in constant use, and known cures have been effected. The natural result, as observed by the • Wellington. Division of the British Medical Association, is that sufferers from cancer from Auckland to the Biuff are travelling under painful conditions to Dunedin for treatment. ’ Hcincc the proposal to secure the means of treatment in Wellington .as the ' most ’central place available to a large section of the people. The Wellington Committee, headed by His Worship the Mayor of the city, is asking the public to subscribe an amount which with the Government subsidy reach ,1320,000, and will supply a gramme of radium and apparatus at Wellington hospital. The appeal is not limited to the city, as it is stated that the amount required would suffice for all the people in the south half of the North Island to New Plymouth, xaumarunui, and Napier, inclusive, and the provinces of Marlborough and Nelson in the South Island. Treatment would be available from Wellington for all people in this area without exception, either at the hospital or by emanation sent to the patient. It is evident therefore that the Wellington Committee is fully justified in asking everyone in the area to which the benefits will be available to contribute something to the cost. The amount sought for is not a very large one spread over such an extent of country and population,,, and the object for which the appeal is made is of the greatest importance, for the dread scourge of cancer is one that should be cainbatted with every means in our power. ,