SURGEONS’ CONFERENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 4, 28 October 1924, Page 8

SURGEONS’ CONFERENCE.

NEW THEORY OF CANCER. BY CHICAGO EXPERIMENTER. NEW YORK. Oct. 2;?. The College of Surgeons conducted a notable symposium on cancer. The discussion developed principally into a consideration of the question as to whether cancer is a parasitical or a bacterial disease and can it he caused artificially in animals by inoculation. Dr. Newsome (Chicago) detailed extensive experiments in connection with mammary cancer, where he isolated a definite microcosm, and this was injected into mice and dogs, producing what he believed-was true carcinoma. Dr. Wood, of Columbia University, outlined the major recognised theoretical objections against the holding that cancer is caused by parasitic organisms. Dr. Ewing (Chicago) praised Dr. Newsome and verified the scientific exactitude of the latter’s work. He intimated that Dr- Newsome’s microcosm might actually he present in cases of mammary cancer and the inoculation of animals therewith might produce carcinoma. Yet other things might be the real cause of the tumorous condition. Dr. Ochsner, ex-President of the College- of Surgeons, endorsed Dr. Newsome’s findings and expressed the belief that the microcosm is conveyed by animal and other secretions. Ho outlined the tremendous ravages of cancer, exceeding yearly the great wars total deaths. Dr. Heyman (Sweden) outlined the effectiveness of X-ray and radium for the destruction of cancer cells and power to stimulate healthy cells to combat the disease. Dr. Worall described the operation for pelvic suppuration, based on new technique which ho had devised. He declared that out of'93 operations only one was a failure, and expressed the opinion that this disease required immediate surgical treatment. READING AND EYE TROUBLE. During the clinic Sir Lindo Ferguson sounded a warning against excessive reading. Ho said ; “The eyes were not meant for reading, hpt were intended for use in the.jungles in looking out for wild animals and searching for food. It is only within the last two centuries that reading has become a matter pi course for the general public, and it is laro-elv responsible for the great amount of 'eye trouble to-day. It has taken mankind millions of years to reach through evolution the present state of civilisation, and our eyes in a hundred years have not caught up with the changing demands made upon them.

DEGREES CONFERRED. The College of Surgeons elected ode new follows, among whom are fourteen Australians and nine New Zealandei Honorary fellowships were conferred upon Dr. Carrick Robertson. >ir Inndo Ferguson (New Zealand), and Di sRalph Worall and Hamilton i\ussell (Australia). , ~ The conferment of honorary fellowships was impressively carried out in the auditorium ol the AValdorr Hotel. Afterwards Dr. Mayo emphasised the elevation of the professional standards of service. Ho paid a tribute to the work of the trans-Pacific surgeons The Royles principle was a great achievement. ho said. It was a bridge leading ever to new and valuable discoveues. The medical world had sufficient technique hut needed ideas, for which t ic world owed a debt of gratitude to Australians and New Zealanders, who had erected a milestone on the road of modern surgery. . , Those elected to membership ot the college included Drs. Aieken and - (Auckland), Douglas (Hamilton Collins. Elliott. Herbert and M Gavin (Wellington), Barnett and Rutlicilo.d (Dunedin). ______