RADIUM FOR CANCER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19124, 16 September 1925, Page 10

RADIUM FOR CANCER.

PURCHASE BY HOSPITAL. SUM OF £SOOO TO BE SPENT. A CAMPAIGN FOR FUNDS. The purchase of radium to the value of £SOOO was authorised by tho Hospital Board at its meeting last evening. The medical superintendent, Dr. C. E. Maguire, who is at present in England, cabled urging the board to purchase that quantity of radium to commence. Tho chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, said that members would agree it was time something of tho kind was done. It had been stated to him that radium was being used freely in all the American hospitals, and it was fortunate that Dr. Maguire was in England when discussions on the treatment of cancer were taking place. About thrco or four years ago, a campaign for the purchase of radium was started, but the efforts on that occasion were practically killed through the criticism of Sir Thomas Parkinson. Since then it had been shown that a great deal had been done in tho treatment of cancer by radium. In all the Southern hospitals radium was being used. The Auckland radium fund stood at present at £3OO, and no timo should bo lost in purchasing radium. A campaign for funds could be commenced on the return of Dr. Maguire. He was satisfied that if the board gave authority for the purchase it would be approved by every citizen in the hospital district. A motion was passed authorising Dr. Maguire to purchase tho radium. Mr. J. Rowe: Where do yon propose to get the money?

Mr. Wallace: We will get the money all right. People are dying in the meantime.