New-York tribune., 1903-08-18
4 ErBsr1rrrE FOR RApruM.

More must be known about the nature of the
material which DR.. Manges is using in place
of radium for therapeutic purposes before
it's value can be estimated, but the mere an
nouncement of the Philadelphian's experiments
is important Partly because the element which
NJ. and Nine. Cure discovered is so powerful
in its effects as TO be almost unmanageable,
and partly because of its high price it was sug-
gested some time ago that the availability OF
other metals which emitted similar radiations be
studied. A promising set of experiments was
then undertaken with thorium, which is much
less potent, by Frederick Soddy. An account OF
these appeared in The British Medical Jour
nar only last month As yet the world is not
permitted to know whether the substance with
which DR.. Manages is working is practically
identical with this. Light on that point is de-
sirable. If the element or compound is essen
TALLY different, Of course a comparison between
it and thorium, in respect to cost and efficacy,
will be of much service TO medical men.
Though neither Mr.. Soddy nor DIR. Manges re-
ceived his inspiration from Professor Graham
Bell, it is interesting TO note an idea advanced
by him in a recent letter to personal friend
in Washington, DIR. u. T. Sewers. He referred
10 the apparent impossibility of producing any
effect on deep seated cancers with an X ray
tube, and asked why it would not be practicable
to attack them in a new way. If a tiny particle
of radium were inclOsed in a small glass tube,
and the latter were embedded at the very heart
OF the trouble, might it not be feasible to fight
more effectively? To this query Dr. Sewers re-
piled briefly and hopefully, but he was not in a
position to be specific. Evidently he has no
immediate intention of following the matter up
himself, but the publication of the correspond
ence is an invitation to others to do So
treatment of this sort. IL will he Saan invOIuaa
special operation to place the tube In position,
but an essential preliminary to that step is OBJ
tanning supply Of radum or something else
that can be thus inclosed and that gives some
assurance of benefit Here, certainly is yalu-
able suggestion, and it is 10 be hoped that sew
eral investigators will act upon it in the near
future. inasmuch as an Y ray apparatus is too
cumbrous TO introduce into those portions of fhe
body where deep seated cancers form, ana IL
ineffective when acting outside, 1t Is OF much
Importance to find a way TO bring the remedial
agent closer to the diseased tissue at least for
test purposes II Professor Bells method is
deemed practicable 1t would be fortunate if at
the same time trial were made of thorium and
the substance with which DR.. Manges Is experi
menting
When cancer is removed by surgery there
is sometimes a recurrence Of trouble q wear or
two afterward For this reason physicians who
have met with encouraging results in treating
one on the surface with X rays are usually eau
tious about pronouncing an apparent cure
permanent Even greater reserve would be
judicious if in few cases victims of less ac-
cessible disorders of this class were benefited
Time alone can tell the full value of either
policy. Nevertheless. the temporary abatement
from physical suffering and the moderate hone
of complete immunity which a few recoveries
would excuse are alone well worth working for
Let Bells idea be thoroughly tested!