INVESTIGATION INTO CURE FOR CANCER NEEDED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18901, 28 October 1929, Page 4

INVESTIGATION INTO CURE FOR CANCER NEEDED.

DOCTORS URGE CAUTION REGARDING THE USE OF KEROSENE TREATMENT. (Special to the “ Star”) AUCKLAND, October 26. The claim that a Frankton man has cured himself of cancer by treatment with kerosene must be thoroughly investigated before any assumption can to justified that a valuable addition has been made to medical knowledge. This briefly expresses the view of the Auckland Hospital authorities, who are directly interested in the case by reason of the fact that the man in question, Mr L. N. White, of Frankton, was a patient in the hospital three years ago. Dr C. E. Maguire, medical superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, stated that the Health Department had written, drawing attention to the case as reported in the newspapers, and steps were being taken to have an examination made of the man, and an investigation of the method he employed. Had the patient cancer? Has it been cured? Dr Maguire made it clear that at present only non-committal answers could be given to both of these questions. It was not correct to say. as had been reported, that Mr White was discharged from Auckland Hospital as incurable. Three years ago he was operated on for cancer, and apparently the kerosene treatment had been applied to a different part of his body to that which was then affected. The operation was believed to have been successful. Had cancer continued in the part then affected, very serious results must have occurred within three years. A year after the operation Mr White was again in hospital for a brief period for examination. The reporting of the alleged cure in the newspapers has attracted widespread notice throughout New Zealand. Among the communications received by Dr Maguire is one from a doctor in the South Island, who asks for any available information, as a patient with inoperable cancer is making insistent inquiries which he is unable to satisfy. Dr Maguire pointed out that until full investigation had been made it waa unwise for the public to build hopes on the basis of Mr White’s experience. It had yet to be established beyond the possibility of doubt that Mr White had had cancer of the part which he treated, and if he had cancer, that the cure was definite. Even if these two points were established ronsiderable further investigation would have to be made to ascertain the extent to which treatment with kerosene could be safely and usefully employed.