SCIENTISTS FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 282, 2 December 1935, Page 10

SCIENTISTS FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

Laboratory for Melbourne

CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY

One uf the most important steps ever taken in Victoria in cancer research is being organised by the Commonwealth Government in conjunction with the physics department of the University of Melbourne, according to an anuouncement made by the University authorities. About seven years ago the Government established the Commonwealth radium laboratory in the Melbourne University to prepare radon gas from, the Commonwealth’s valuable store of radium, to make the gas available to hospitals in special needles ior the treatment of cancer, and to give scientific advice to doctors and specialists on the physical problems involved in the use of radium for the treatment of tumours. This service has saved Victorian hospitals about £looo t. year in maintenance costs, with incieased efficiency in treatment. The new plan is for a somewhat similar scientific service in connection with the use of X-rays, and in addition the staff of the new laboratory will conduct research in X-rays, with delicate and powerful apparatus not available elsewhere, to discover new means of using the rays to combat cancer more efficiently. The first objective will be to provide a means of measuring the dosage of X-rays administered to patients. The use of drugs generally in the treatment of disease has been successful largely because it is possible to measure very accurately the amount of any drug that is administered. Manufacturers maintain large staffs of highly-trained scientists to standardise the quality of the drugs before they are sold, and where the exact dose is especially important the drugs are frequently measured into doses, also' by

trained scientists, before they leave tho factory. The question of dosage is just as important in the use of X-rays or the rays from radium in the treatment of disease, but the only direct means of measuring the quality and quantity of X-rays administered is too technical fur use in a hospital without the assistance of an expert scientific service, and the indirect methods now used give only a roughly approximate measurement of the dosage. The present methods are carefully controlled, and it must not be thought that they are unsafe, but better results in treatment may be expected with gieater accuracy in dosage. The new laboratory will provide accurate meters, and wdll have the necessary equipment to maintain their accuracy, and it is believed that in this way the treatment of cancer by X-rays will be made more sure and more efficient than ever before in Australia. The direct method, known as “the ionometer method,” has been used very successfully abroad in places where trained physicists are available to administer it. The maintenance costs of the new laboratory will be met by the Commonwealth Government, and about £5OOO is to be raised by public subscription in Victoria to pay the capital cost of

building alterations and equipment. An appeal will be opened shortly for this sum, but although the appeal has not yet been begun, more than £6OO has been contributed by those who appreciate the value of the service. A highly-qualified staff has been appointed by the Commonwealth Health department. The pnysicist in charge will be Dr. C. E. Eddy, who is a doctor of science and a fellow of the Institute of Physics, and has done brilliant scientific research in X-rays and radium, both in Melbourne and abroad. Mr T. H. Oddie, M.Sc., will be the physicist of the radium branch. He also has a brilliant record of special post graduate training. The assistant physicist will be Mr W. M. Christianson, M.Sc., and Mr G. E. Shera and Mr C. Barnes have been appointed as mechanics to the radium branch and the X-rays branch respectively. The position of Dr. Eddy on the teaching staff of the University ha« been filled by Mr E. H. S. Burhop, a brilliant Melbourne graduate, who U now returning from a post in the famous Cavendish laboratory, Cambridge, under Lord Rutherford, to take up his new duties. Mr Burhop has also specialised in research in X-rays, and in addition to teaching he will continue

these researches in association with the staff of the new laboratory. Accommodation lor the laboratory has been provided by the University of Melbourne in the department of natural philosophy, where alterations are now being made to provide the space necessary for the safe use of apparatus which will operate at electrical pressures up to 1,000,000 volts. The monuj 11 for the alterations has been guaranteed s by the University Council, pending the 1 launching of the public appeal. s The staff of the new laboratory will ’■ not only conduct the routine scientific work and research, but its members '' will be made available to give expert advice to all metropolitan and provin- * cia] hospitals on the physical problems involved in the use of the complicated * modern X-ray apparatus. This part ‘ oi the work was begun promptly, b and the newly-appointed physicist iu ‘ charge has left for Sydney, where, at the invitation of the committees of 1 management of the public hospitals, he e will examine the plant available for radium and X-ray treatment, and dis1 ‘ cuss problems with the staffs which use e it. Later he will go on to Brisbane on c a similar mission. 13 The appeal for capital funds has been delayed to make it possible for the e University authorities to co-operate «s with the new Victorian Anti-Cancer i Council, which is being organised by s the State Government In the meane time, work is being continued with the building alterations in the school of natural philosophy, so that the service e and investigations of the X-ray section of the Commonwealth X-ray and u radium laboratory may begin at the 8 earliest possible date.