CANCER RESEARCH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XL, Issue 4, 5 January 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

CANCER RESEARCH.

Dr Henri de Rothschild, whose devotion to medical science is, says the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph of November Ist, well-known, and who, besides attending many patients in the poor quarters of Paris, has also founded a hospital for children, and various other charitable works, has decided to co-operate with Dr Poirier in founding an institute in France of special research for a cancer cure, and has given a sum of 100,OOOf. for the purpose. The gift was made at the conclusion of an interesting paper read on October 30th by Dr Poirier, before the Paris Academy of Medicine. Professor Poirier is one of the most eminent surgeons of Paris, and has devoted much time and labour to finding a cure for cancer. Serums, he says, are nowadays in vogue, and yet all medical and surgical associations are agreed that no radical remedy has yet been found for this terrible disease. Unfortunately, he added, science is still in the dark as to the nature, origin, and causes of cancer. All that is known is that cancer, in its initial stage, is a local affection, and remains localised in the body for a shorter or longer period. During this stage of the disease it can be cured with certainty by a thorough operation. This is well-known to surgeons, but unfortunately ignored by the public. That cancer can be cured in itsearly stages by operating was known long ago, and is more certain, nowadays than ever, owing"to the progress in antiseptics. .

The German surgical society for the treatment of cancer has recently demonstrated that within the last 50 years cancer has been cured by an early operation in 20 to 40 per cent, of cases. The only exceptions are cancers of the stomach, where, unnappily, the surgeon's knife cannot be applied with success. Serums, he said, have in some cases saved operations from failure, but cannot be admitted to have of themselves effected a cure. They are mere palliatives at their best. As to X-rays, they, on the contrary, are known to have a certain curative effect on superficial cancers, and may be applied, together with serums, in cases where an operation is impossible. Professor Poirier, however, is convinced that cancer is not incurable, and that a remedy will some time be found. He has devoted himself to the cure of one of its most difficult forms—cancer of the tongue—and has had some success. Five years ago, he said, he operated on several patients, and two years later he presented the Societe de Chirurgie two who had been radically cured. In his paper referred to, he presented new statistics to the Academy of Science. He had operated on 32 cases. Eight died after the operation, which was performed at a very advanced stage of the disease; eight have been perfectly cured, and the rest are still under observation, and are apparently doing well. The mistake of most patients is that they refuse to submit to an operation until it is too late. Speaking of the causes of cancer of the tongue, Professor Poirier says that two conditions seem to be essential—the patient is either an inveterate smoker or has coni tracted a well-known secret disease. I When both conditions are present in the patient the disease is still more characteristic. Professor Poirier then mentioned, with regret, that while cancer is the object of serious research in other countries, especially in England and Germany, there was no institution in France which devoted special attention to this subject, and which [ organised and centralised experiments. Dr Henri Rothschild happened to be present at the lecture, and was so interested in Dr Poirier's communication that he wrote to him the following letter:—

Mr dear Professor and Friend.—l listened with interest to your lecture. I am convinced, as you are yourself, that cancer is curable in its early stages by means of a comprehensive operation. I also think that it- is indispensible to combine all individual efforts, and I hope that your appeal will be heard, and that France, which' has so many earnest workers, will organise a serious anti-cancer campaign. I wish to co-operate in this work for the benefit of humanity,, and hereby send you a cheque for 100,000f. for the committee which is to undertake this great work.—Henri D© Rothschild.