MARTYR TO SCIENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21446, 22 September 1931, Page 8

MARTYR TO SCIENCE

FRENCH DOCTOR’S DEATH VICTIM OF X-RAY CANCER. Hr Celcstin Soret lias died at Nice, France, at the age of 70, a martyr to his prolonged and devoted work as radiologist, For 23 years he was X-ray specialist to the hospital at Le Havre, and it was in the course of his duties and researches in that town that he contracted the malady known as X-ray cancer, which was eventually to prove fatal. First Dr Soret’s right hand and then his left hand had to be amputated. But the course of the disease was not to be arrested, and as a result of further operations Dr Soret lost both arms. His martvrdom went back as far as 1914.

Knowing as ho did that bo was doomed Dr Soret nevertheless continued his studies and researches as a radiologist. From his own terrible affliction be derived much data of groat value to medical science. For 17 years he bore with rare fortitude the grim disease which was in the end to strike him down, refusing to allow the agony of pain to stay the pursuit of his investigations in the interests of suffering humanity, France recognised the sublime heroism of this distinguished medical man by conferring on him in 1923 the Cross of the Legion of Honour.