CAUSE OF CANCER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19532, 15 July 1925, Page 7

CAUSE OF CANCER

IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES. I COMMENT BY THE LANCET. Prei* A»Boci»tioa—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 14. (Received July 14, at 8.30 p.m.) The Daily Express states that congratulations have been showered on Dr Gye, biologist, and Mr J. E. Barnard, an expert in microscopy, who are responsible for the discovery of the origin of cancer. Dr Gye, who is a most retiring scientist, has boen conducting researches on the Medical Research Council's experimental farm for the past 10 years. Mr Barnard is purely an amateur scientist. He keeps a West End shop but has devoted his leisure for many years to microscopy. Be invented a special micriscopic apparatus for Dr Gye's experiments. The Lancet says that Mr Barnard, applying optical methods which he elaborated for the study of Bovine pleuro-pneumonia viruses to cancer viruses cultured by Dr Gye, not only made the cancer virus visible but photographed it. The results of Mr Barnard's observations so closely correspond with Dr Gye's experimental results tisat the existence of a living cancer •u-iis appears to be established. The experiments show that there are two factors concerned in the aetiology oi canoei-—first the living virus, the extrinsic factor ; and secondly, a chemical substance produced by the cells, the intrinsic factor. The Lancet concludes: "Dr Gye's observations may represent a solution of the central problem of cancer." —A. and N-Z. Cable. CAUSE OF CANCEROUS GROWTH. A NON-TECHNICAL EXPLANATION. LONDON, July 14. (Received July 14, at 11.40 p.m.) The Daily Sketch, in the course of the first non-technical explanation of the discovery, says: "It is now presumed that two definite and distinct factors play a part in producing cancerous tumours, firstly, there is the Barnard-Gye newlydiscovered ultra-microscopical germ which is universal, floating in the air like othe germs. Secondly, there is some d.-ad material of the human body which is peculiar to the individual." The Sketch asserts that without dead Mesh, the experimenters could not induoe the germ to produce a cancerous Lumour Cancer frequently follows blows and other injuries. It is now clear that these produce dead material in which the cancer germ develops. The Sketch emphasises that no treatment has yet arisen from the discoverySydney Sun Cable. CHRISTCHURCH DOCTORS IMPRESSED. (Peii United Pkess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 14. Dr Pearson, pathologist, and Dr Penwick, head of the radium department of Ohristchurch Hospital, say that the report of the discovery of the cause of cancer by the National Institute carries considerable weight. They believe that a cure is in sight.