The Cancer Scourge.

Progress, Volume III, Issue I, 1 November 1907, Page 32

The Cancer Scourge.

[to the editor] Sir, — It seems to me that the glowing account of the results of Dr. Beard's treatment of cancer, published in your October number, should not be allowed to pass without criticism. In the present state of our kno\^ - ledge such articles do a large amount of harm, as they encourage the unfoitunate sufferers from this deadly disease to shrink from "uhat is the only certain cure — early and extensive removal of the diseased fart. There is no doubt that Dr. Beard is sincere in his ad\ ocacv of his pancreatic ferment treatment, and thoroughly believes that he has discovered the long-sought-for cure. It may be so, but he has certainly not proved it yet. On the other hand he is not a physician, and he has had very little opportunity to obtain clinical experience of cancer. He is lecturer on Embryology in the University of Edinburgh, and has worked out his " cure " by laboratory methods. The treatment of cancer by pancreatic ferment has now been tried hy a large number of competent men. and the reports on the whole are discouraging. It was tried in the cancer ward of the Middlesex hospital, and the report states that no improvement took place in any of the cases. It has also been tried by Ligertwood, Yon I,eydei, Pusey, Campbell, Lambelle and many others without any marked success In all these cases the treatment was carried out according to Beard's directions. In connection with aU " cancer cures " it must not be forgotten that there are many varieties ot cancer, which vary enormously in their rate of growth Sometimes, e\en without treatment, there appears to be considerable improvement for a time, and the tumour becomes smaller. There have even been se\eral cases reported in which the cancer, after growing for a time, seemed to disappear entirely. From time to time various agents have been lauded as " cancer cures " but none have stood the test of experience. Coley'^ fluid, X rays, and radium rays have each had their turn, and 1 hen have been discarded Several cases have been reported cured by each of these agents, but the \ast majority of cases show no improvement. So may it be with Trypsin and Amylopsin I have treated some cases with Trypsin and Amylopsin exactly according to Beard's directions, and some certainly seemed to improve for a short time — but only for a time. There are several potent preparations of both ferments on the market. The ferments are destroyed at 65 °C — not F — but no one would think of sterilising them by boiling, as they are easily sterilised by passing them through a Berkefeld filter. It seems to me that it is justifiable to try the treatment on those cases that are too far advanced to offer any hope of cure by operation, but that it would be criminal to waste time in early cases and so rob the unfortunate sufferer of his only hope of cure. I can only repeat that, at present, the only known cure for cancer is early and wide removil with the knife. — I am, etc., C. Mackie Begg. M.D., F.R.C.S.. M.R.C.P (Ed.) Wellington, 23/10/07. TThe article referred to by Dr. Begg was published in the interests of a community wherein the dread cancer scourge is only too prevalent. Moreover, the writer of the article deals with his subject in so clear and interesting a manner that it cannot fail to engage the attention of students throughout thp Dominion. — Ed. Progress].

The United States built 60,000 automobiles in 1906 France 55,000, England 28,000, Germany 22,000,1ta1y 19,000, and Belgium 12,000. In 1901 the United States built only 314 cars, while France built 23,711. Tree Planting in Pennsylvania. Pittsburg has a project m hand for planting 2,000,000 000 trees in the basins of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers, and thus checking the disastrous fres hes which annually destroy property to the valu e of millions. If this task is accomplished, Pittsburg will be entitled to high credit as a creator and conservator of natural resources invaluable to a large and important section of country, stretching from Western New York throu gh Pennsylvania and Maryland into West Virginia Insoluble Adhesive for Envelopes and Postage Stamps. Two solutions, one for the inner side of the envelope flap, and the other for the place where the flap is attached, the latter not to be touched with the lips : 30 parts of crystallised chromic acid dissolved in 15-5 parts of water and in about 15.5 parts of strong ammonia, with about 10 drops of sulphuric acid. 31 parts of ammoniocupric sulphate and four parts of fine white paper. First solution, isinglass dissolved in acetic acid 1 part acid to 7 water) at 212 deg. F.

There has recently arrived from Minneapolis, U.S.A., to the order of Mr. X J. Ible, of the Lower Hutt, Wellington, a complete plant for the manufacture of Miracle concrete building blocks. Included in this plant are portable moulds for cement pipes, and a concrete mixer. Mr. Ible reports that everything is now in good working order, and a large number of blocks of various sizes and designs for the construction of houses, stores, factories, and ornamental walls, are now being turned out, and are on the market for practical - purpose building material. We understand that there is also another Miracle plant about to start in Auckland at the works of Wilson's Portland Cement Co. ****** Recently a peculiar accident happened on one of the New York ferries. A large touring car heading the line of vehicles being transported was allowed to stand on the slightly inclined deck of the boat with all brakes released. Upon the entrance of the boat

into its slip, and just after the chauffeur had started the engine, the ferry collided rather forcibly with the side of the slip, and the car, from its own inertia, started for the chain gates across the front of the runway. Several people who were standing in front of the car were pushed off into the water and one man slightly injured.