THE CONQUEST OF CANCER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 961, 31 October 1910, Page 6

THE CONQUEST OF CANCER.

OPINION OF AUCKLAND DOCTOR. (By Telegraph.—Special' Correspondent.) , Auckland, October 28. There has been, some discussion lately regarding the cure of cancer: byradium, and the provision of radium at the dilfe'rent hospitals is being urged ih this city. There is, however, in practice here a medical mail who, while fully ali'vo to - the effioacy •' of radium, by no means admits tnat it dwarfs the' usefulness of tho X-rays 'particularly, when the factor of cost is considered.' 1 He states that pure radium bromide: (maximum activity up- to): 2,000,000 units) is quoted at £25,000 per gramme' by a London.and Melbourne lira. When' he made inquiries he further learned that the finn making ' this' quotation would not guarantee;- delivery Within any reasonable time. Therefore, seeing that the Cornwall pitch blende, mines are proving richer in radium than was anticipated, and seeing that radium is likely to decrease in price, : he had deferred bis intention to buy a radium outfit and was continuing the uso of the. X-rays for cancer treatment. Ho maintained that tlie X-rays, equally ' with radium were an almost certain euro for superficial growths of all sorts, including epithelioma, lupus, rodent'ulcer (a form of concer), angeiomata, warts, proraisis, etc. As regards deeper growths these (whether removed by the X-ravs,- by a tubo of radium, or with tlie knife) were liable to; recur. Ho added that, in Auckland last week', a woman was discharged from treatment- who had been suffering from sarcoma, tho cancerous growth (internal) being as'big as two clenched fists. ' She was treated with tho X-rays, tho. growth was removed, and sho was' discharged as oured.