CANCER RESEARCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 19

CANCER RESEARCH

CONTROL OP DISEASE UNCERTAINTY as to cause POSSIBILITY OF SUCCESS PATHOLOGY PROFESSOR'S VIEW .The progress made by overseas research workers in their search for the primary cause of cancer was detailed by Dr. J. P. Cleland, professor of pathology at the University of Adelaide. when he arrived at Auckland by the Mariposa yesterday. He is returning to Australia after spending six months in England and the« United

States for the purpose of investigating

' the latest methods of teaching path- | ology and of observing modern developments in the subject. "Progress is being made in many

'' directions in the investigation of ' cancer, and it is, possible that we are nearing the time when its exact nature will be understood," Professor Cleland said. "If this is true, there is a much

better opportunity of our being able to control the disease, tho incidence of which is regarded most seriously throughout the world."

However, opinion was still divided as to whether cancer could be traced to ' a virus. Some years ago the possibility of a living entity being the cause was discarded, but the evidence that was now availably suggested that it was a more likely proposition than was previously thought. There had been a considerable increase in the amount of sif data collected by investigators. Professor Cleland said he had the opportunity of visiting a number of the pathological departments attached to medical schools in the United States and he was much impressed by the accommodation and facilities that were provided. Not only was the equipment thoroughly up-to-date, but staffs were /' unusually large, skilled investigators being assisted by secretaries and stenographers who /were, in turn, aided by the use of modern calculating and sorting machines for statistical work, i While abroad Professor Cleland met V Professor Drennan, formerly of the University of Otago, in his pathological department at Edinburgh University. He was in cha,rge of a large establishment which was undertaking very important work.