Radium for Cancer

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 166, 13 January 1914, Page 5

Radium for Cancer

RESULTS HOPEFUL BUT NOT ABSOLUTE. AN' IMPORTANT LETTER. Timcs-Syduty Sun Special Cables. Received 12, 1ti.35 p.m. London, January 11. An important letter, signed by Sir Alfred (iould, and Doctors John Bland Stilton, ,) u .iu Murray, Tlios. tiellock and (,'oriiyus .Vrklcy, surgeons at the Middlesex Jtuspital, lias been " published Milli iig that Lliey are surprised to read !he communication to (lie Times on Thursday purporting lo give results obtained at the hospital by the radium treatment of cancer palients. All the patients at this hospital received for inoperable cancer are .under the sole care of the honorary stall', upon whom rests the entire responsibility of the treatnuent adopted, and thc\ desire to point out blurt the Times' statement, which was made without communicating with those responsible for the treatment of these iwtient.s. does not correspond with the ■experience during 1012, when Si!) palients were treated, 107 died, (17 discharged at their own request, and S3 remained. Lust year 3111 were treated, 173 died, 7o were discharged, ami 88 remained. Although the results from radium are most hopeful, they do not justify the statement that we have a cancer cure. The whole profession is anxious for a larger supply, and regrets (hat its scarcity and cost makes its general use impossible.