RADIUM “BOMBS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1939, Page 5

RADIUM “BOMBS”

INTENSE WARFARE WAGED. CAMPAIGN AGAINST CANCER. A report from London referred to the work of three New Zealanders in the battle against cancer, and the use of “bombs” of radium.

In a' report of the British Empire Cancer Campaign, Lord Reading compared the campaign to a battle with its three stages of preparation, intense struggle and the breaking down of the morale of the vanquished. "Lines of approach upon the enemy's position have been opened up.” he said, “and it has been possible in consequence to attack with great vigour over a wide front. The attack is proceeding. If it is too soon, as yet, to say that victory is in sight, it is true, certainly, that hope of victory is increasing from year to

year.” The main attack, he said, was beingdirected against the cancer cell itself and knowledge was increasing about the cell and about the chemical reaction which occurred within it. The report stated great improvements in the method of using radium "bombs” had taken place. These large aggregations of radium had now become comparatively safe, and were proving effective. Lord Horder has said that animals have been cured of cancer by ultrashort wireless waves. The results had demonstrated that the curative effect of the waves in the experimental treatment of cancer was brought about by heat which they generated within the tissues. This heating was of a very special character, for it could be localised and controlled withan accuracy which was impossible before the application of the newer methods of modern wireless technique. It was found that, as with radium therapy, very careful control of dosage was necessary. As with radium, great differences were found to exist in the susceptibility of different tissues to this controlled form of heating.”