PARIS LABORATORIES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 25, 30 January 1930, Page 10

PARIS LABORATORIES

LETTER FROM DR. BEGG

Dr. A. M. Begg, who has been engaged for some years past in cancer research work in the Stroude Laboratories, London, and who has been appointed by the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign to come to New Zealand to continue his work here, and to confer with the medical profession, has written to Dr. Elliott giving an account of a visit he has made to the cancer research laboratories in Paris. J)r. Begg's letter is as follows:—

"Paris, December 9, 1929,

"As you see from the above address I am now in Paris, and am finding the work most engrossing. I have been hero for just under three weeks, and am spending the time between the Eadium Institute and the Paul Brousse Hospice.

"The utmost courtesy has teen extended to me, and many facilities given to study radium and X-ray work. It becomes more apparent each day that in the short time I propose to be here I can touch only the fringe of the subject. However, as my work is to be chiefly research I do not feel justified in suggesting that I should remain for a prolonged course.

"It is interesting to note the different methods adopted in England and in France, but it is impossible yet to form any conclusion as to their relative values, as radium work is still very much in the experimental stage. The work done here, however, is rather more conservative, and is very sound.

"After visiting Stockholm and Brussels, I hope to be in a position to suggest which method of treatment we should adopt. Quite apart from the methods of treatment, tho question of dosage varies considerably in individ-

ual cases. As the whole subject is still young Dr. Legaud and his colleagues have not committed themselves to any set figures; indeed, to prevent ideas of dosage being formed on insufficient data, they allow no one to see the treatment given unless he is prepared to remain for six months. This does not apply to the Paul Brousse Hospice, where I have seen a fair number of cases treated, but you can understand that dosage can be learnt by experience only, and that the treat-

ment of our patients will be governed largely by the amount of radium at our disposal.

"Tho whole team work here is excellent, and might, I think, be advantageously adopted in New Zealand. However, Sweden or Belgium may suggest a finer method. The team consists of a surgeon or surgeons, a radium expert, a radiologist, a pathologist, and tho records department. In addition, there is the research side to inquire into the genesis of cancer, and int the action of radium and X-rays on normal and malignant tissues in animals. This is, of course, tho side in which I have chiefly specialised.

'.'ln Paris at least, radium has not replaced surgery. In the absence of contra-indications, tho Badium Institute staff insist that every heart case should b,e treated surgically. X-rays, using a high potential arc, is of great value, and will be an important point in New Zealand, where I presume radium for distant therapy will be limited.

"I hope to reach Stockholm on the 20th rf this*month."