MR GILRUTH INTERVIEWED.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43084, 25 April 1907, Page 4

MR GILRUTH INTERVIEWED.

Mr Gil ruth, chief GoVermnnt Vet. erinarian, of New Zealand, who left, the colony some months ago to> visit Paris and study in the famous Pasteur Institute has reached London. In an interview he said : —“The most striking thing at the present time is the investigation that is going on of the great oajnoer problem. There are literally thousands of mice at the institute, which have been inf acted with cancer for the purpose of its operation being Carefully observed and studied. Perhaps it is niot strictly accurate to say the disease is infectious, for the process is rather that of granting by inserting a piece of the cancerous growth taken from another animal. But, at any rate, ihe disease is communicated to the mice, which appear to be the only animals to Which the disease can be given with certainty. It can occasionally be given to rats and frogs, but to no other animals. I myself tried the experiment, but with no ibetter success than others who -had made the attempt. You see, it is so important to know that animals cannot be ‘infected’ with! cancer, in the strict sense of the word, aJrid that to produce cancer in even the most susceptible mice, there must hie an actual ingrafting of cancerous growth from another animal. I spent some time, at the Paris Natural History Museum, examining the latest discoveries as to' Various parasitic affections and developments, and gained much useful information on this head, a highly important matter in veterinary surgery. Then, I, also attended the Alford Veterinary School with much advantage, and the Institute /Algronomique, where all matters relating to milk and dairy produce, including their bacteria, beneficent and maleficent, and dealt with. Here again, I picked up a vast amount of useful information, but, of course, much! of my results must be kept lor official communication to the New Zealand Government.”