STRUGGLE WITH CANCER

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 135, 29 August 1927, Page 9

STRUGGLE WITH CANCER

LEAD TREATMENT HOPEFUL PROGRESS MADE BRITISH DOCTORS’ VIEW By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright LONDON, Sunday. A new method of treating cancer was revealed at an Inquest concerning the death of Mrs. Harriet Woolley, which was held at Chasetown, near Walsall. Dr. Arthur Thompson said Mrs. Woolley had suffered from cancer. As he found it impossible to remove the cancer by an operation he decided to give her lead and glycerine treatment. After eight injections the patient was in almost normal health, and the cancer had been reduced from the size of a man’s fist to that of a hazel nut. After the ninth injection, however, Mrs. Woolley developed toxic symptoms, and died in a few days. A post-mortem examination revealed the presence of under one-tenth of a gramme of lead, only 10 per cent, of which probably represented an overdose. “This shows,” said Dr. Thompson, “how little turned the balance against us.” The verdict was that death was due to fatty degeneration of the liver, which was probably due to lead poisoning. it was disclosed that two other patients were treated in Birmingham Hospital. “We are sanguine that in these cases the cure is definite/’ said a hospital official. “But before we allow ourselves to be elated, we must await a full course of treatment, which occupies six months. “Then if it is thought a cure has been effected, periodical examinations w r ill be planned over a term of five years. We cannot be certain under that period.” I The official said it would be premature to give. details of the treatment, but said it followed the lines of the investigations by Dr. Blair Bell, of Liverpool. Dr. Bell is a firm believer in the lead treatment for cancer.—A. and N.Z.