EMPIRE CANCER CAMPAIGN.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20629, 19 August 1932, Page 4

EMPIRE CANCER CAMPAIGN.

RECENT RESEARCH WORK. DUKE OF YORK'S APPEAL. (FROU OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT. J LONDON, July 13. The Duke of York presided at the annual meeting of the British Empire Cancer Campaign. He was satisfied, he said, that from the start waste of energy and funds had bccmavoided bv prevention of overlapping, and that all means in their power were being used to solve the baffling problem of cancer. There was much in the latest annual report which marked progress, and if they could obtain the financial help so vitally necessary for that work they might look with confidence- to finding the solution, which would mean ?o much to sufferers throughout the world. "A year ago," he said, "I made a suggestion that the campaign should consider the question of intensive propaganda throughout the country, with a view to encouraging the public, when in doubt, to seek early medical advice, and thus help to reduce the heavy loss the country suffers from cancer. I am gratified to learn that my suggestions have received every consideration, and that considerable progress has already been made.

"Like all great charities," added the Duke, "we are feeling acutely the present financial depression, and the balance-sheet shows that, in spite of the most expert financial direction, our resources arc growing less year by year. I particularly desire to thank our generous supporters who have continued their practical sympathy. Their contributions have helped on, in no small measure, the progress which has been made. In spite of the economy so necessary in these times, they have never turned a deaf ear to our annual appeals. I earnestly hope their example will be followqd by the British public generally, for it woul-1 be nothing short of a tragedy if our work had to be reduced from lack of adequate funds." Sir Thomas Horder, in moving the adoption of the annual report, said the International Conference of 1925, held in' London and convened by that campaign, was responsible for infusing fresh vitality into research on cause and treatment, not only here, but throughout the world. The credit for that stimulus belonged to the campaign, and was reflected in the standard of work carried out at all its centres. The report showed that there had been no slackening .of the quest, both for cause and for treatment. He felt Bure that it was sound policy to pursue both quests with equal vigour, for it was quite impossible to say along which of these two lines they would first achieve control of the disease. "Control" was a litter word than "cure"; it was possible to "control" a disease before knowing its cause.

The Cancer Hospital bad coutinued its investigations upon substances capable of producing cancer in animals, and at the Leeds centre the inhibitory action of mustard gas had been, further studied. The Birmingham centre had investigated tobacco-smoking as a cause of cancer, or rather the experimenter had painted the backs of mice with the tars which had been left behind after various tobaccos had been burnt. Smokers would be pleased t<j know that only one out of a very large uumbsr of mice so painted had developed a tupiour, and thay had to remember in this connexion that adM omilwlsr treated ozdi*.

ary coal tar developed tumours very frequently. Immunising Mice. Last .year's report recorded that Dr. Lumsden had succeeded in immunising mice against c-aneer, and also in effecting the disappearance of tumours in these animals by Ihe use of serum. By a process of detoxication of this serum, Dr. Lumsden had succeeded in giving much larger doses, and had found by this means he was able to get much better results. Even though this advance referred to mouse cancer, and not human cancer, this line of research appeared to become more and more promising. Prominent in research into treatment were, of course, X-rays and radium. _ It was good to know that the campaign was working in close co-operation with the National Radium Commission. He thought he was right iw saying that the campaign was the godfather of that beneficent organisation, among the trustees and commissioners of which, incident ailv, were many members" of their Grand 'Council. They looked forward hopefully to the emergence of data which might have far-reaching results from the mass of statistics which would be available front the combined records which were now kept at all treatment centres.

They looked to the National Radium Commission to give them the final decision as to whether the hopes built upon bomb therapy had justified the use of massive dosage at a distance, and, if the answer was in the affirmative, assurances that effective arrangements would be made so that the method might be available for patients in this country. From the various reports now before them it was obvious that radium treatment was carefully and efficiently carried out by the many branches or affiliated organisations of the Campaign. He trusted that it was apparent to all that in our Dominions, and in the Home Country, the Empire was pulling its weight in the relentless attack upon cancer. This pioneer campaign was doing its utmost, and if the British public, with its never-failing generosity, would sec them, through with adequate financial help, they could respond to every one of the calls made upon them.