"STRATFORD EVENING POST" FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1929. HEALTH RESEARCH.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 37, 15 February 1929, Page 4

"STRATFORD EVENING POST" FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1929. HEALTH RESEARCH.

VKIIY extensive work is being carnet! out by the Health Committee of Hie League of Nations, and the Assembly at- its last session expressed pleasure at tins increasing value ot the committee's .operations. During the year the Health Organisation arranged numerous conferences, session;.) of commissions, study tours, courses and enquiries, which were by no means instances of isolated activity, bub represented successive stages in. Hie solution of international health problems, the preliminary titeps in connection with which had been taken earlier. The Cancer Commission in particular, took steps to investigate the methods and efficiency of tiro radiological treatment of cancer. As a. first step an exhaustive inquiry is being carried out as to the results of radiological treatment in three largo institutes, namely the Fondation Curie in Dans, the Universitats —Frauenkliiiik of Munich, and Lire Dadiumhcmmet of Stockholm. Another enquiry is being carried. out by Hie Italian members into the relationship between cancer and constitution, and finally an inquiry into occupational cancer is being undertaken in conjunction with the International Labour Office, in order to elucidate certain points by n, comparison of experience in several countries. Widespread interests is thus attached to the claims of the two Munich professors, who are members of the Cancer Commission and chiefs of the Munich Gynaecological Hospital. The treatment! covering 4000 cases of cancer in 15 years by a combination of radium rays and Xrays lias resulted in front T 4 to 20 per cent, of the oases, previously regarded as hopeless, being cured; that i s they are remaining free from disease for 5 years. It is not the first occasion on which apparently importnut announcements on the subject hfrvo been made, and in tlrq past Inter research lias discounted the value of the claims, but in the present instance it is in accord with the opinions urged at the recent BnI is], Empire Cancer Conference, that ji is to radiutu treatment that the

vilest Impcft ran Im» placo<l in It"* ellVclit’C! dealing si-Hli, thin dreaded

scourge. Tho /international mi till re of the inquiries being madq by the Jjcaguo of Nations, embracing as >t does th» co-operation of the world s leading experts enables the result ot their researches to bo known throughout tho world, which is of vital practical importance in the war against disease. The League organisations are singularly well fitted for the purpose of successfully conducting inquiries into health quitters. Their investigations! at present include infant mortality, social and rural hygiene, tuberculosis, and sleeping sickness and other complaints. It can be confidently expected that only tho greatest good can result from tho work of the League in Ids direction, and increasing success will surely follow its far-sighted policy of practical collaboration with extra-European countries.