GANGER RESEARCH.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14619, 25 January 1918, Page 6

GANGER RESEARCH.

PROPOSAL FOR A SCHOLARSHIP.

DEBATE AT UNIVERSITY

SENATE.

At Monday's meeting of the University Senate in Di.i.nedin 'the Hon. Dr. Collins inoved:—':Tnafc tf;e Now Zealand University establish a research scholarship, open to the medical profession in New Zealand, on the subject of cancer and allied malignp,n't diseases. Th.it the terms and conditions be referred to the Medical Committee of the Senate." Dr. Collins explained 1:ojv he, had come to brine; this" matter before the Senate by notice of motion. The proposal was to use the funds of the I Sir George Grey Scholarship, for which the number of candidates was found to be small and tl:e conditions unsatisfactory. With reference to the subject of cancer, he spoke of the great progress that had been made in recent years as the result of scientific research. He outlined the conditions prevailing in tne seventies of last century and the great advances that been initiated by' Pasteur, Lister, and others. It was necessary not only to have research, but to interest the public so that the results of the research might he made use of. It was possible even in a small community like this to carry out investigations that would add to tl:e stock"of common knowledge. He referred particularly to the remarkable results*obtained in research work by Dr. Truby King ip. reference to the preservation of infant life and the promotion of the health of women and children. He onoted figuresl,showing that, wlrile the" j death rate from cancer per 100.000 of ! population in New Zealand in 1877 was 32, the rate in 1915 was 82. This in ' itself was sufficient justification for the ; demand for research work on the aub- ; ject. It was an interesting- fact that, j as the death rate from cancer Trad gone up, the death rate from phthisis has I gone down in corresponding degree. The death rate- from phthisis had doclined from 87 in 1877 to 63 in 1915 lie general death rate all round was declining. The research work of the last 50 years had done an immense amount to preserve life, and there was no reason why within the next 50 years cancer should not become a curable disease. Dr. Wilson had drawn attention to figures pointing to the curious conclusion that Britist immigrants were much more liable to cancer than were native-born Australians. At the present time cancer ranked second to Heart diseaso as a cause of. death In 1915 there were 224 deaths from'can- °! rii n i™ Zealand. The following up of the history of' discharged patients would be a very valuable branch of research. He thought the research n°^°i arslui> should be «'orth at least £400 or £500 a year. He would like to see the holder of it visit every hospital m New Zealand to see every case of cancer, to inquire into every case

under tie care of a doctor, and to get the opinions of both doctor find patient in every individual case. The results could then be sent to the committee concerned at Home. Dr. Ferguson, in seconding the motion, pointed out what a research scholarship meant, and said that anything; in tre way of an undergraduate scholarship like the Sir George Grey would be quite useless in this case. There was an awakened interest in research scholarships at the present tim*. But if any research was to be eamea o«.;t satisfactorily it must be by a man of training, under the srudanee of a most experienced man rte revenue of the Cancer Research Committee at Home was something like £8000 a; year, and though they had been at work for 15 years, they had not so far done anything towards reducing the cancer death rate. He thotjght tie sum mentioned by Dr. Collins would be only the very beginning of the expenditure. ("Hear hear.") With £500 a year for one man, without material and equipment, no results at all could be expected. He thought the matter was one that might well be brought before the Government, as it was one for the Public Health Department. Professor Segar expressed his sympathy with the motion, but said he was sorry that Dr. Collins had made use of statistics of an alarmist character. In these statistics no allowance was made for the cl:ange in the average age of the population, which had considerably increased. He quoted from careful investigations made by himself some 17 years ago, showing that the increase in cancer was not nearly so great as was generally supposed. The increase in the figures was partly due to improved diagnosis. He also strongly challenged tee inference that cancer was more prevalent in immigrants than in the native born. Mr. Yon Haast moved as an amend--1 ment. "That the Senate represent to \ the New Zealand Government the ad--1 visability of taking steps' for the en- | oouragement of study and research in the subject of cancer and allied diseases."

Dr. Anderson, who seconded the amendment, took the view tfcat the matter was one outside the functions of the university and Belonging to the Government. The university had not sufficient funds for such investigation; Referring to the Sir George Grey scholarships, he eaid Dr. Collins had been misinformed wfcen he concluded that these scholarships had not been of much use. Of the 68 possible Sir George Grey scholarships during the last 17 years, 51 had been awarded, and the facts indicated that at present there were not sufficient worthy candidates for the purpose for which the scholarships were given. He thought that tie scholarships might be abolished, having served their pui-pose, but the Minister thought the memory of i that great statesman should he perJ petuated. They -would be glad of a j lead from the Senate as to how tte funds should best be expended, and he himself would not be averse to divert- | ing them for post graduate research. Dr. Benham pointed out that there already existed a scholarship of,} £250 a years for three years, giving a student I opportunity to pursue his studies of j .cancer in the Old Land. The Hon. Mr. Hanan suggested set- i ting Up a committee that niight bring '■ definite and practical' proposals before the Government. It was. a matter on ; which the Government naturally desired !to have professional advice, it seemed j to him^that the main question was one jof finance. If the research was to be i taken up sirccessfullv it was the mo? +- j •skilled and advanced men who should jbo indi.^ed to give 'themsplvos to it. } The Chancellor'expressed the opinion that it would be a mistake to aboli«b : the Sir George Grey scholarships. He believed that valuable investigation i-iifrhf. Kf> t"<k]o i"' •Hits country as to the effect -if mr -'^'.Tv^r1 find'surround - f ings on the incidence v;Z cruder. . TTo thought the general Tr-^Tir 1" <-* JV» necessity of 'such research ■shonVl- l'-e | n^r^pfl- p.i'd it might then be left to | the Medical Committee to suggest the I exact de+n'ils. ! Dr. Collins,- in -replying, Viid hi" Ulnn. I was tl*-at.tl'e research student shcniH : work in this country and get a very clear idea of the amount of cancer in . tb^ country. - ■■-' Dr. Collins's motion was lost, and Mr.;. Yon , Haast's was .ngi-qad to. on the voices.