BOON TO MANKIND

Evening Star, Issue 18334, 23 July 1923, Page 9

BOON TO MANKIND

INSULIN FOR DIABETES. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 20. The Surgeons’ Congress has paid a tribute to Dr Banting’s discovery of insulin. Dr Leclerque described it as an epoch-making discovery, which might bo compared in its far-reaching benefits to Pasteur’s discoveries. All cases of uncomplicated diabetes responded favorably to insulin treatment. One of the most welcome features of the discovery was the light it shed on the progress of the disease.—A, and N.Z. Cable.

INTERVIEW WITH LONDON DOCTOR

A London doctor, interviewed shortly after his arrival at Wellington, imparted some interesting details to a ‘ Dominion reporter in regard to insulin, the newlydiscovered cure for diabetes.

‘‘ln diabetes,” ho said, “the sugar which normally passes into the blood- is not able to bo used by the tissues, and so is excreted. Apparently, before the sugar can be used ns it should be normally a change must occur in its molecule, and it would appear that the substance responsible for effecting this change conics from the pancreas, or sweetbread. It has long been known that diabetes can be produced experimentally by extirpation of the pancreas, and that the condition can be relieved or cured by subsequently grafting pancreas into the animal experimented upon. If the duct of tho sweetbread is ligatured, the digestive juice of the gland cannot enter the intestine, and gradually tho parts of the gland- that form this juice atrophy. “Diabetes is not produced, however, and certain cells in the pancreas remain as active as ever. These are known as the islets of Langnrhans, by whom they were described, and it is believed that they form the internal ec-crction (internal, since it enters the blood stream dircctlyl, which brings about the change in the sugar molecule necessary for the destruction of tho latter by tho tissue cells to prolong energy.

“ For many years attempts have been made to isolate the internal secretion, and it was pointed! out by Strickland Goodall, of tho Middlesex Hospital, that, since the islets of Langerhnns occurred- in greatest numbers in the tail of the sweetbroad, probably from this part, of the organ tho long-sought-after secretion would be obtained. Tin’s observation has proved correct. In 1920 insulin was isolated hy workers in one of the Canadian universities. It is obtained in, greatest quantities from the, tail of the gland.

“ Chiefly sheep's glands have been vised, but owing to the great demand for the product it has been .shown recently that those of fish may be used. 'Diabetics in Canadian, American, and English hospitals have been submitted to treatment, which consists of hypodermic injections, usually into a vein ; but they may be given into muscular tissue only. A chemist at Guy’s Hospital has greatly expedited the production of insulin by an alteration in the technique for its separation. In Guy’s, the Middlesex, andi most of the other London hospitals insulin has been successfully employed. The injections have to bo repcjitcd at short intervale, dependent on the typo and severity of the case; but as a result the sugar output secreted is diminished or slopped. Although the whole question is in an early stage, the outlook is most hopeful. It would appear that, as long ns the injections are carried out, the patient is free from diabetes, and the evil effects dependent upon the non-usage of sugar hv the tissues are warded off.

j “Sufferers from diabetes might well con- • suit the insulin specialists in the countries referred to, as, once the dosage and regimen necessary in each ease have been established, the local practitioner, on advice from the specialist consulted, is able 1 to administer the necessary injections.

j “The simplicity of the treatment is out- ■ standing, but there are some as sceptical as the Syrian leper, who would murmur; ‘Are not Abanin and Phnrpar, rivers of j Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?’ Naaman’s servants prevailed upon him, however, and, simple as dipping seven times in Jordan appeared, wo are told 1 that his 'flesh ‘came again, like unto the flesh of a. little child, and he was clean.’ , Tho insulin treatment of diabetes is almost I as miraculous and essentially simple and i logical; tho result is all that can he desired, and there is a great hope, for tho diabetic in tho future.”