ADVANCES IN RADIUM.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue 140, 24 August 1925, Page 4

ADVANCES IN RADIUM.

TREATMENT OF CANCER,

LONDON, July 3. j I Delegates representing radiological , ( societies in America, the Argentine, , Austria, Belgium, Canada, CzechoSlovakia, Denmark, France, tiermany, Holland, the Irish Free State, Italy, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland are attending the first International Congress of Radiology opened in London this week by the Duke of Connaught. It is a unique assembly of scientists, eminent doctors, surgeons, and professors. In declaring open the proceeding's, the Duke of Connaught remarked that on the technical side of the work the use of X-rays for the detection of faults in steel was now an established procedure, and in the use of Xrays for the detection of hidden faults in wood in the construction of aeroplanes this country had led the way, while in other directions the use of radiations for the detection of the structure of coal, etc., was on the increase. MEDICAL SCIENCE. “On the medical side the development of the Rontgen discovery has been the means of giving relief to countless thousands of patients, and largely from its use os an aid to the more accurate diagnosis of disease, he continued. “In the matter of treatment advances have been equally striking, and the fact remains that today we look forward eagerly to the developments and discoveries of tomorrow in this most promising held of research. X-rays and radium have been extensively used in treatment, but much research is still necessary before it is possible to assess _ their value in the treatment of disease. The promise of the earlier days may not he fulfilled, but there are reasons to believe that with the more intelligent appreciation of their effects and developments in the application of these agents more striking advances may be made, “The consuming question that interests scientists and medical men is the discovery of the cause and treatment of cancer. All over the world men are working in this field to control the ravages of this fell disease. Meetings such as this can only he for the common good; international amity at tiie present time is, above all, urgently necessary, and no surer method of promoting such cordial international relations can lie imagined than the meeting in congress of the leading intellects from all countries. Most hospitals are equipped with Xray installations, and efficient service is rendered. I would call attention to the development and service to the community which have been established in this country. There are many small cottage hospitals which cannot have an efficient service to meet their demand and the occasional need of an examination in remote districts, and the British Red Cross Society has instituted the beginning of what I hope will soon become a widespread organisation; I refer to a mobile X-ray unit, which can be taken to the patient's bedside, and places at the disposal of such small hospitals and homes an outfit as good as many of those in the large hospitals. A number of such units at suitable centres throughout the country under the efficient control of a radiologist would be of great service to the country.’ The‘Duke of Connaught referred to the recently-formed British Institute of Radiology, whose two-fold aims are to promote friendly relations and exchange of ideas with other radiological centres throughout the world, and to look after the interests of all who are associated with radiology, iii the organisation of research and teaching. Sir Humphrey Rolleston is the president. The Government has placed at the disposal of the Medical Research Council a large quantity of radium, which is distributed throughout the country to n number of hospitals and research centres. TJhe , British Empire Cancer Campaign . has also been interested in radium and X-ray research, and has already granted considerable sums of money r for approved schemes of research and the supply of radium to centres.

The Ministry of Health is conducting an inquiry intd the results of treatment of cancer, and one of the chief inquiries is concerned with the efficiency of X-ray treatment in cancer therapy. It is hoped that the outcome of the' inquiry may be sufficiently encouraging to warrant further large supplies being placed at the service of the medical profession.

“REMARKABLE PROGRESS.” The Right Hon, Neville Chamberlain, M.P., Minister of Health, in welcoming the delegates on behalf of the Government, said that we could all remember the enormous sensation, amounting almost to incredulity, which was produced when we first heard of Rontgen’s discovery. At that time few anticipated what that discovery might menu for the general benefit of mankind. Some of the developments that had taken place since had a practical commercial value, but naturally, as Minister of Health, he was more interested in the' medical development, Remarkable progress had been made, but each new discovery only seemed to lift the curtain a little higher and show us still further possibilities opening up' before us. It was the duty, and it was the policy, of his department to do all they couid to stimulate and to encourage research, but at the present time radium itself was both scarce and very expensive, and would be so, he supposed, until someone could show how to produce it from house refuse or beetroot, or something of that kind. (Laughter). The exhibition comprises the finest collection of radiological apparatus ever brought together. Numerous firms are showing instruments that are the last word in that branch of medicine which deals with treatment by means of X-rays and those emanated by radium.