PROBLEM OF HUMANITY

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17836, 8 October 1929, Page 10

PROBLEM OF HUMANITY

CANCER RESEARCH.

ANOTHER GENEROUS GIFT. It was announced last week that the chairman of the Nerw Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign has received a cheque for £2OOO from a citizen, who desired to remain anonymous, towards the campaign for the prevention and cure of cancer. The donor of this gift, who has been generous on a number of previous occasions in the support of worthy public objects, is anxious that the fund for fighting the cancer scourge should be put on a stable footing. Therefore, the gift has been immediately available for the movement in New Zealand. The Executive 'Committee is extremely grateful for this thoughtful gift, for it is given for the specific purpose of providing for the payment of the salary of the distinguished investigator, Dr. A. M. Begg, who has been engaged to undertake cancer research work in the cancer laboratory of the Mcdica! School In Dunedin, it should be understood that money is required for this purpose to a considerable cxlent. and it is hoped gradually to build up an endowment fund, the income from which will maintain this investigation in perpeiuiiy, or until such time as the problem inis boon solved. In reply |o inquiries made by the Wellington Evening Post, the chairman of the New Zealand branch o? the British Empire Cancer Campaign (ill-. .1. S. Elliott) stated tliafa Dr. Hogg's duties commence next month. The first, three months of his engagement will tic spent in cancer laboratories r-.i the Continent, with special reference, to the study of new methods in Hie use of radium, which in trained hands are giving surprising results. It may be ilmught that the in\esiigations in a cancer research laboratory are theoretical and only of academic interest: bur, on the contrary, it, is hel i by medical authority that such investigations have a severely practical trend, and in New Zealand will have a tendency towards improvement in the LPest methods of treatment. To this end, it win probably lie arranged that Dr. Begir will visit llio various centres in New Zealand to lecture and demonstrate to the medical profession.

Active Support Essential. At the racent international conference on cancer held in America, the leading medical authorities strongly urged the importance of pressing on the campaign with the utmost vigour, and also of giving whole-hearted support to Ihe research workers. In the course of his address, Dr. Le Boy Long, Professor of Surgery 1 . Universityl of Oklahoma School of Medicine, said: “There are certain things in connection with the control of cancer about which we all agree. We agree that it is a good thing to make a proper investigation, and that such investigation should he made early so that everything possible may be done to save thc life of the patient. We seem lo he in agreement about suspicious signs, and about the desirability of early treatment. We are in agreement about thc clinical aspects of cancer, hut do \v.e sufficiently cm ■ phasise Hie importance of research in our effort to determine the essential cause of cancer?

“I 'believe that Hie time has come when a great organisation like this should support more actively Ihe cloistered individual who is dedicating his or her iife 'to the investigation of this prohle n of humanity. We ought to throw off our preconceived ideas and, without fear, wait for the truth to be demonstrated; and, while we wait, we ought, to support actively those who are making the investigations'.’