AN OPEN MIND

Evening Star, Issue 20315, 25 October 1929, Page 7

AN OPEN MIND

HSDIOOS AHO ALLEGED GANGER CURE [Per United Press Association.] HAMILTON', October 21. Discussing the claims of Mr L. N. White that he cured himself ot cancer In- injections of heated kerosene, Dr Ellioti. of Wellington, president ot tho Now Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, said in an interview hero to-day that there was a danger that tho broadcasting through tho Press of the alleged cure might be productive of harm. If the kerosene had merely acted as a destructive agent, there were several destructive agents which had been used in cases of cancer, such as caustic and arsenic; but this group of chemicals was not viewed with favour, and was not equal to the knife in a favourable situation. It was difficult to believe that while it might have had a local action kerosene would have any penetrating effects, so that even if it were proved to he beneficial locally its adoption might give a false sense of security, causing delay. Dr Elliott emphasised tho fact that to discover a cure for catncer would nob necessarily mean that the cause had been ascertained; but it was probable that the discovery of the cause would precede any methods of treatment. If the public were not given a false security it was all to the good that the question of cancer should he discussed in the open In regard to Mr White’s ease, before any pronouncement could be made it would bo necessary to have definite information concerning the "rowth, whether it was actually a cancer or not. Tho medical profession maintained a perfectly open mind in regard to tho problem.