Progress of Cancer Research

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7185, 17 June 1933, Page 6

Progress of Cancer Research

NEW ZEALAND’S SHAKE IN WOBLD-WIDE CAMPAIGN Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Satisfactory progress in the search for tho cause and cure of cancer was reported r.t to-day’s meeting of the New Zealand branch of tho Empire Cancer Besearch Society. At the same time the Wellington division . and central committee met. • Dr. Elliott, who presided, said New Zealand was playing its part in tho world-wido cancer campaign and the world had learned more about cancer in tho last 20 years than it had learned in tho 30 centuries which covered the recorded history of medicine. Knowledge of tho causes of cancer was being gradually crystallised. It was not improbable that successful treatment would be discovered before the cause. At present early cases of cancer were often curable and hopeless cases could be greatly relieved, the pain greatly lessened and life prolonged. Tho following delegates to the central committeo were present:—Otago, Sir Louis Barnett, Professor E. D’Arth, Mr W. E. C. Eeid; Canterbury, Sir IT. T. D. Acland and Mr W. S. Newburgh; Auckland, Dr. W. Young and Dr. C. 11. Moricc; Wellington, Dr.. J. S. Elliott, Dr. P. P. Lynch, Mr P. Fraser, M.P. Dr. A. M. Begg, the society’s medical research officer, submitted a report upon the work carried out at the cancer research laboratory in Dunedin. He pointed out that it was inevitable that investigations would be of extreme complexity and difficulty. Several months might elapse before a result affirmative or negative was achieved. The invostigators’ courage and tenacity were taxed to tho extreme. As regarded experiments and studies in immunity, it seemed at least true that partial and sometimes complete resistance can be produced by inoculation of mouse tumour extract into other animals.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Society, Dr. Elliott was reelected president; Sir Louis Barnett and Sir H. T. D. Acland, vice-presi-dents; and Mr R, Darroch, secretary and treasurer.

Sir Louis Barnett paid high tribute to tho research work being carried out by the society. It was only right, he said, that tho public should know the great work being carried on and the good use being made of the funds generously subscribed by tho people of the Dominion.

Sir H. T. D. Acland expressed sirni lar views.

It was decided that the next annual meeting of the society be held at. Christchurch.