CANCER RESEARCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26958, 18 December 1948, Page 8

CANCER RESEARCH

“A SLOW BUSINESS”

DIVISION’S ANNUAL MEETING

Cancer was a slow business and six months was only a short time, said Dr F. Bielschowsky, reporting on his research activities at the annual meeting of the Otago and Southland Division of the Cancer Research Society yesterday afternoon. Some progress had been made in the study of the disease and he hoped that, as time went by, he would be able to get closer to the answer to “ this great puzzle.” Stress was laid on the essential slowness of progress by the chairman, Mr F. Gordon Bell, who said that if a solution were discovered in the next decade it would be surprising.

Activities on the clinical side were proceeding much as usual, said Mr Norman C. Speight. During the year 205 new malignant patients had been treated and 102 non-malignant. The ratio of non-malignant cases was considerably greater and the total number of consultations was 650, also an increase. All told, 850 malignant cases were under observation. The number of deaths was 60, the decrease being due to the fact that more patients were reporting earlier for treatment. It was reported that since the books were closed over £6OO had been received in bequests and gifts. The sum of £SOO was received from the estate of Anthony Westlake, of Oamaru, and £IOO from the estate of Mary. Elizabeth Ash. The Sutton School Jubilee Committee had sent in a donation of over £B. “It is highly desirable that public interest should be maintained, as increased research will inevitably demand further expenditure,” commented Mr Bell, in expressing gratification at the donations.

The General Committee elected comprised:—Messrs A. H. Allen, J. W. Dove, F. Gordon Bell, Norman C. Speight, F. G. Hall-Jones (Invercargill). A. Barnett, Edgar C. Hazlett, James Hogg, R. Hudson, A. C. Matheson, W. O. McKellar, D. C. Macpherson J. M. Paterson. G. R. Ritchie. J. Sutherland Ross, W. Taylor. C. J. Wood, R. Fulton, Drs A. S. Moody, E. F. D’Ath. Falconer, Fitchett, J. A. Thompson. Sir Bernard Dawson. Sir Charles Hercus, Sir Donald Cameron. Lady Barnett, Bishop Fitchett, Bishop Whyte, Mesdames W. F. Edmonds and F. W. Mitchell and the Mayors of Invercargill and Oamaru