CANCER.

Grey River Argus, 24 February 1927, Page 6

CANCER.

A WARNING. The public will probably be disappointed at the outcome of the discussion in the Medical Congress at Dunedin on the problems associated with cancer, for no new views were put forward. either in regard to the cause or cure of that malignant disease. Professor P. MacCallum (Melbourne University) uttered a warning against extravagant claims made from time to time, and deplored the spurious prominence given to some of these. He was sceptical concerning the alleged spread of cancer, for in many instances investigation of statistics showed that the data were insufficient, vitiated, or wrongly applied. Some interesting work on heredity in relation to cancer had been carried out by Miss Slye, who had found out that, so far as mice were concerned, cancer was dependent on true inherited characters. It was too early yet to pass final judgment on the work of Dr Gye, whose claim that a certain form of malignant disease was due Io ultra-microscopic virus and a chemical special factor had been challenged. In Liverpool Blair Bell had treated patients with a colloidal form of lead, and claimed success, and a great deal of research was being carried out as a result of his ideas. Professor MacCallum said that it was scarcely possible to draw any useful conclusion from the heterogeneous mass of available facts. They knew a great deal about cancer, and hoped to know much more in the near future. Dr. Wi Repa (Gisborne) said that in his experience cancer was common among Maoris, although the re verse was held to be the case. He suggested that formerly, when the Maoris were a very warlike people, few males reached the cancer age.

Dr L. E. Barrnett (Dunedin) said that in recent years there had been an improvement in the mortality from cancer of the mouth, breast, and uterus. Dr. A. Norton McArthur pleaded for earlier diagnosis. Dr. P. D. Cameron (Wellington) said that he was anxious that every woman suffering from cancer should be examined by a surgeon physician, gynecologist, and radiolagist. lie was satisfied that a great deal of success had attained by means of deep X-ray theapy.