CANCER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20644, 16 February 1929, Page 24

CANCER.

TO THE EDITOR. Slßy—'•Some little time back you were good enough to publish a letter of mine under the above heading, in which I said, in effect, that seeing the hopelessness of the patient helplessness of the medical profession to deal successfully with - the trouble, and seeing, also, the many lasting benefits which outsiders have conferred on the community, surely would not, in the circumstances, lie out of place to make inquiries further afield, and testing all claims that are put forward, to see if some course of treatment, which has . produced a definitely advantageous result could not he put into practice for the amelioration of, or, as is claimed in pome cases, the cure of the sufferer. _ All honour to our self-sacrificing scientists and.doctors for the gallant fight-they are putting up! In the face, however, of conflicting statements, contradictory, re- . ports, and generally unsatisfying state- ; ments not only as to the shortage of V Radium, but —-what is still more unsatisfactory^ —as to its double-edged character, . would it not be in the public interest if the research experts were to extend their .'field, not confining themselves, as it were, to one aspect? To put it plainly, with V the gloves off, why not follow up cases that have been treated in the hospital and ascertain whether they have progresaed or gone back since leaving there, , uncured, and any, if the case of one whose trouble was diagnosed as cancer, and who left the hospital voluntarily rather than submit to an operation and has, outside . of the hospitals, been cured and has remained cursd for several years, can be proved, why should professional etiquette t hinder this matter from being looked into -by our generous-minded doctors so that, i through them, the benefit of further re..search might be extended to those auffer- . ing from this dreadful malady? I am glad that Mr Smaill has come into .--fhe field, and I would urge that this matter be earnestly taken up by all «md sundry. Personally I am not so much •concerned with "bow we got into the

pit,” as to “ how wo are' going to get out of it nor whether the ladder used be of conventional or unconventional make, provided we get to the top. In writing thus, I am not advocating quackery in any shape or form, and have no axe to grind, but simply, with‘others like-minded, am anxious to help, as far as lies in our power, to stem the awful tide of pain and misery which, in the dread form of cancer, is carrying off so many of the best of the human race. In closing, while thanking you for publishing my 'ast, and in anticipation of this, I take the liberty of forwarding a communication which will show the bona fide character of the spirit which prompts us to bring this matter forward again.—I am, etc,, Interested Onlooker. February 14.