CANCER RESEARCH

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 1274, 16 July 1925, Page 5

CANCER RESEARCH

Photographing The Invisible Virus CURE STILL REMAINS TO BE FOUND. [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Wednesday, 7 p.m). LONDON. July 14. According to the “Lancet,” Dr. Gye’s conclusions are: Firstly, al! malignant new growths contain ah ultra-microscopic virus, or group o( viruses, which can be cultivated. This applies to the carcinomata and sarcomata of fowls, mice, rats, dogs and man. The virus probably resides within cells of neoplasms. Secondly, the virus alone, washed free from all adherent material, does not produce a tumour when injected, or even a visible lesion. Thirdly, when injected together with a virus of free extracts of tumours, the virus produces a malignant new growth. The extracts therefore contain the substance which Dr. Gye calls the specific factor, enabling the virus to attack and transform the cells of injected animal into cancer cells. Fourthly, there is no species or specificity so far as the virus is concerned, because tumours can be obtained in one species of animals with a virus from the tumour of another species. Fifthly, the specific factor shows a very strict specificity of species. Thus, to produce malignant new growths in a mouse, it is necessary to use a specific factor from a mouse tumpur, whereas the specific factor from a chicken tumour is ineffective. Sixthly there is probably also strict specificity of tissue for the specific factor. Hitherto only sarcomata have been obtained and only with a mixture virus and a specific factor from sarcomata, not from carcinomata. * The “Lancet” says Dr. Gye's experiments do not contain any sug-j gestion for the cure of cancer, but| point the way to further bio-chemical work, while strikingly reconciling much conflicting theory. Dr. Gye, in an interview, declared he must not raise false hopes. A cure for cancer still remained to be found, but certain definite results had been obtained. “THE ULTRA-MICROSCOPE.” GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE. (Received Wednesday, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON. July 15. The achievement of Dr. Gye and Mr Barnard was made possible by Mr Barnard's invention of 'the “ultramicroscope,” which involves the use of a camera microscope, Ultra-Violet and X-rays. A scientific writer says the process is perhaps best described as a special method of lighting a film of liquid under observation. The ultramicroscope has enabled scientists, with the help of the rays, to photograph a virus which cannot be seen and is only made apjmrent on the film by the disturbance caused to a beam of light. The specimen is subjected to the most powerful possible magnification and despite the fact that there is nothing visible, it is photographed by the rays. Professor Lazarus Barlow says if the discovery passes all tests, it will be the greatest single achievement in cancer research, and we can then proceed' on the next step in the direction of discovering a cure. The “Morning Post” says the public must remember that the researches of Dr. Gye and Mr Barnard, though immensely valuable, are researches in the domain of pure science, not therapy. It was already fairly certain that cancer could be attributed to no extrinsic specific cause. It is now discovered there i? a certain ultra-microscopic virus which is a necessary factor in the caution of concerous and allied growths, but which is capable of producing a new malignant growth only in conjunction with already infected tissue. This does not carry us very far from the non-scientific viewpoint Death itself may some day prove to be an ultra-microscopic virus, capable of isolation by micro-photo-graphy. We shall not on that account jump to the conclusion that immortlity is at hand. GREAT PRAISE FROM GERMANY. (Received Wednesday, 8.5 p.m.) BERLIN, July 15. Professor Neusel, head of the Koch Institute, said if the claims of Dr. Gye were substantiated, British medical science would deserve to be congratulated on one of the most brilliant achievements ever made.