The sun., 1903-08-09
CANCER CURE is NOT FOUND.
roo HOPEFUL REPORTS MADE or
THE X-RAY TREATMENT.

.s,,otol Cable Despatch TO THE SUN.

|
Special Gable Despa,eh to THE SUN.
LONDON, Aug. s.--Published statements
with regard to medical discoveries, cnieny
| In connection with the X-rays and radhum'
succeed one another with such rapidity thaC
| II is difficult to follow them with precision.
| The deepest interest naturally. is centred
on the achievements of those who are
irving to work their way to the discovery OF
! a cure for cancer, which, as cause OF oeath
in this country, ranks second only 10
| phthisis.
The results of a series of experiments in
Great Britain and on the Continent have
already been described in The SUN. They
certainly are such as to arouse the hopes
of expert Investigators. who are now de-
voting themselves entirely to this great
problem, that they are at least on the right
track. IL would be rash and unjustifiable
at present to say more, yet statements are
constantly appearing in the daily press
raising false hopes Of sufferers that cure
has been found at last.
One such was made yesterday by eminent
bacteriologists, who have been engaged
entirely in the last six months in research
work at the laboratory Of the Royal College
OF Surgeons under the auspices of the
cancer research fund. Drs. Murray and
Bashford, who were among those appointed
investigators, refuse to give confirmation
to tie story. Nothing, they declare. is
being neglected by the committee, and con-
sequently much research has taken place
with respect to incipient cancer in lower
animals, yet the causes Of cancer in these
animals are often of an entirely different
nature from those in man. The parasitic
conditions are different. while the treatment
which would be adopted and proves sue
cessful in the cases Of animals. could never
be applied to human beings.
The cancer cure, said one OF the phy-
sicians, will never be discovered by one
man. When it is found Il will be by the
continuous efforts Of every one engaged.
One little cl,ls leads to another and nobody
hides anything or tries to hide anything
from his colleagues. 1t must be noted. too,
that there is not the slightest intimation
in the report presented week ago to the
first annual meeting of the Cancer He
search Fund Committee that any definite
results from the experiments are immi-
nent.
Prof Duguet an eminent Paris physician
and professor in the French Academy OF
Medicine, declares that the experiments
hitherto made have revealed nothing on
which to base scientific treatment. He
says: I'VE are still cropping in the dark
with regard to the reported cures by the
X-rays. My long experience in the largest
hospitals in Paris has made me most
sc,ptical Believe me. these cures are not
definite.
The Middlesex Hospital in London is the
pioneer in cancer research in Great Britain.
1t receives suggestions of cures from all
parts of the world weekly, Many are
fairly tried, but hitherto without success.
The Mddlesex Hospital doctors authorize
the positive statement that, while they do
not assert that they have effected any,
thing like cure by means Of the X-rays
and Finsen light treatments, yet the pain
has been abolished.
Edison's experience of i'll effects from
prolonged exposure to the rays is no new
thing in the London hospitals, where il has
long been found that the demonstrators
who are daily in the presence OF the rays are
liable to epithelioma, a malignant growth
on the skin which ia nearly allied to cancer
The workers in the photograph department
of the London hospitals are now on an en-
forced vacation with their hands injured
but this is not a common experience. One
precaution taken in some of the Continental
hospitals is that Of employing a leaden
screen when taking photographs, so that
only the necessary surface shall be ex-
posed to the rays. This plan, it is thought
by the English physicians. is not neces-
sary. and the suggestion that the operators
wear leaden mittens is thought to be i'm
possible, as they would probably destroy
the medical properties Of the rays.
Various newly discovered rays of sur
prising properties have been disclosed
in the n rays recently discovered by NJ.
Blondot. They have been found capable
Of raising the luminosity OF glowing solid
or gas without raising the temperature
thereof. More light without more heat
may be regarded as something OF paradox
An article in the Electrician, commenting on
this, says there seems to be, under the in
iuence Of the N rays, some modification OF
the atomic vibrations which. while leaving
their energy unaltered. increases their fire.
o,lency. In any case. the fact itself is of
| great importance and interest. Anything
| tending TO increase the luminosity of a body
at the expense of its temperature brings lis
| nearer to a solution Of the great problem
~ tho ecopo uical production Of light