The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1914. RADIUM TREATMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1914. RADIUM TREATMENT.

Considerable interest is being taker throughout the North Island in the proposal to erect a Radium Institute at L'almerston North, and already substantial promises of monetary supporl are forthcoming. A fairly large sun is, however, required, because aparl from the necessary buildings tit*, great cost of radium itself lias to Ik borne in mind. Not long ago \)r. L Barlow made a statement in the London Times regarding the treatmenl of inoperable eases of cancer wit! i radium at the Middlesex hospital,whici must be considered encouraging as i'ai as it goes. Between the months oi June ami September thirty-two patients under the treatment improved very markedly, though the result, it i: stated, does not come as a surprise to those- who have been following th< course of cancer research. -Medical men, however, sound a warning note j when" they express the view that it will be unfortunate if the public leaps to the conclusion that radium treatment is the only or even the best form of treatment in general cases, and such an authorilty as Sir Alfred Pearce Could, while able to quote from his own knowledge a number of cases where treatment with radium has been followed by excellent results speaks of the dangers of slottghing, thrombosis, haemorrhage, and constitutional reaction. He did not. he said, feel justified in using radium for case.-, of malignant disease which many believed would be satisfactorily dealt with by radium, nor was he of opinion that after operating for cancer radium should be used as a prophylactic measure to prevent recurrence'. Though even yet, after long year:-; of patient research, the medical world is fai from a solution of iho problem of how to cure cancer, there is much hope in the radium treatment and the move ment now afooi to set up a North Island Radium Fnsitute is certainly worthy of the greatest encouragement and s import.