CANCER RESEARCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23014, 16 April 1938, Page 15

CANCER RESEARCH

ORIGIN OF DISEASE A POSSIBLE SOURCE ENGLISH AUTHORITY'S WORK [BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday^ Progress in research to combat cancer was described to-day by Sir James Elliott on his return to Wellington by the Wanganella from Sydney. Sir James is Wellington president of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, and he has been attending the ninth Empire Caiicer Conference at Sydney. An eminent English authority there claimed that he had traced the disease to its possible source, remarked Sir James. The conference was attended by Professor Charles Edward Dodds, of Middlesex Hospital, London, who flew out from England for the conference and wa« flying back. He had been brought out by the Commonwealth Government, which was showing intense interest in the cancer problem, to advise them of recent advances in cancer research and treatment. Professor Dodds became well known in connection with King George V.'s serious illness. He was prominent in research in organic chemistry and held the chair of Oourtauld Professor of Biochemistry at the University of London. He was a member of the Grand Council of the British Empire Cancer Campaign. Professor Dodds had been carrying out special researches into the properties of various bodies of the benzene group. It was well known in medical circles that certain tar products, if rubbed into the skins of mice, would produce cancer. So, also, would certain chemicals belonging to the benzene group. Professor Dodds had told the conference that he thought it not improbable that such a cancer-producipg chemical substance might, under suitable conditions, develop in the human body and produce changes in previously healthy tissues, leading to the development of malignant growths. This was by no means proved yet, but it was the direction in which cancer research was proceeding at the present time.