CANCER RESEARCH.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17006, 20 January 1927, Page 6

CANCER RESEARCH.

NOTABLE ADVANCE. HOW DR. LUMSDEN WORKS. "Dr Lumsdcn's discovery is one of the most hopeful advances in recent years," declared a well-known Sydney pathologist. "It looks as if we might develop a scientific method of cure of cancer even before we know anything about its cause." Dr. Lumsden has been granted a subsidy of £IOOO by the British Empire Cancer Campaign, with whose organisation and aspirations the medical faculty in Australia are entirely familiar. • What Dr Lumsden is doing is to infect rats with cancer in the same way as animals, are infected with diphtheria organisms for the purpose of producing a protective serum. When this serum is drawn off it is administered to infected rats, and has caused a cure of their condition. Infected rats have had cancers produced on their forelegs, and the scrum from the previously infected rat is injected into the neighbourhood of the -tumor, and a band is lied round the foreleg so that the circulation is restricted. This results in the formation at the site of the tumor of what are known as anti-bodies, which have the capacity of ridding the infected rat of any cancerous growth. Australia May Help. "Of course, it is a far cry from the rat to the human being," explains the expert, "but there is no doubt that Dr. Lumsden's work has been most stimulating to other investigators carrying on research on similar lines, and it is probable that the near future will see similar work carried on in Australia. The Universities of Melbourne and Adelaide are giving special attention to this type of work. Very interesting results have been obtained by subjecting these tumors to radium treatment. This treatment seems to stimulate the tumors to produce substances in the blood which make it difficult to infect the animals again with cancer. "Dr. Lumsden," he concluded, "is a man of great scientific capacity, and his anxiety to avoid making any definite claim to cure cancer in the human being is most praiseworthy lest public expectations might be unduly roused." Delayed Appointment. Surprise is expressed in medical circles concerning the delay which has arisen in regard to the appointment of a State ca'neer expert. Recently an important conference took place in relation to the appointment of an expert, and the Cancer Research Committee is to submit names to the Minister for selection. Mr Gann said that although he regarded the appointment or a cancer expert as of paramount importance, he anticipated some delay. Meantime, however, he proposed to appoint a T.B. expert. "I am hopeful, in view of the success of the recent appeals," added the Minister, "that certain hospitals will, at an early date, be equipped with apparatus for dealing with cancer."