CANCER FROM A GERM?

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18518, 24 December 1931, Page 10

CANCER FROM A GERM?

MEDICAL MEN STARTLED. RESEARCH ON WRONG LINES. NEW THEORIES. New theories that boldly contradict the generally accepted notions as to the cause of cancer have created not a little sensation in the realm of medical and surgical Investigation. That there is a cancer microbe or virus, and that cancer is, therefore, in a technical sense, an infectious disease is the startling belief brought forward by two experts, Dr W. E. Gye and Dr. W. J. Purdy, -of the National Institute for Medical Research. Their theories are propounded and most interestingly explained in “The Cause of Cancer.” Dr. Gye, who has conducted six years of intensive experimental work, first expressed his belief 'that cancer Is caused by a virus comparable with the microbes that cause spotted fever and infantile paralysis in 1925, and then met with devastating criticism from other medical men. He declared, in effect, 'that the bulk of medical research on cancer was directed along the wrong lines. The book uses such phrases as "dogmatic" and “unwarranted" in reference to the tendency of medical opinion to assume that cancer is not caused by an organism, and points out that this was the attitude previously adopted to other diseases which have since been ■shown to be caused by virus. The authors state: “We have satisfied ourselves that only theoretical arguments and negative evidence can be brought forward in favour of the entrenched and almost universal views. Although

Argument and Negative Evidence. are valueless in face of positive experimental findings, we expect no rapid change in the form and objectives of cancer research generally. Medical opinion is too strongly set.” The effective experiments In the book are based on fowl cancers. The tumours of -these cancers can be crushed and :passed through a fine filter which removes the cells and leaves a clear fluid. This causes cancer when Injected. By injecting this filtered matter into ducks, rabbits, goats and horses, which have the power to resist fowl ■cancer, the experimenters obtained this resistance in the form or a serum which In turn prevented the filtrate taking effect in oilier fowls. Experiments showed that the tumours arising from the injection were the same in cell-formation as the tumours from which the filtrate was made. Dr Gye and Dr. Purdy, therefore, are forced to the conclusion that- In addition to the virus there is in the filtrate a cell-forming agency. The experiments raise the question as to what extent cancer is infectious. The -book suggests that there may be in the body some unrecognised _ reservoir of ultra-microscopic microbes; the microbes may live in Ihe bodies of fowls without producing cancer; they may be like the microbe which ■causes spotted fever, carried in the throat of most men and women until ■rare circumstances allow it to cause fever.

DR. BENDIEN’S CLAIMS. NOT ACCEPTED BY ASSOCIATION. After making an inquiry into the work of Dr. Bendien, the Dutch scientist, on -cancer, the British Empire Cancer Campaign dissociated itself in •the strongest terms from any claim •that may be made that he is able to treat the malady. The Investigation Committee found that the method of diagnosis could not be accepted as reliable. Sir Charles Gordon-Watson pointed out that in all his official correspondence Dr. Bendien had ne\er made •claims concerning his treatment of cancer. , , , Neither had one single shred of evidence been submitted in support -of his ability to treat cancer patients successfully.