Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-16
EFFECT Of RAD|UM
ON CANCER SHOWN
Demonstration by Dr.. Louis
Wickham Feature of Brit
ish Medical Convention.
Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.

Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON, August 1, 1910
One of the features Of the proceedings
at the British Medical Associations meet
ing this year was the demonstration OF
| the effects Of radium on cancer, given
by Dr. Louis Wickham Of Paris. The
curative influence which radium unQues-
tionably has on certain forms OF cancer
makes any investigation into this subject
matter Of the highest importance tc
medical men throughout the world, and
consequently a lecture by DR.. Wickham,
who is acknowledged to be one of the
greatest living authorities on radium, at
tracted a large audience.
Undoubtedly this question as to what
extent radium is able to destroy cancer.
Gus growths has been one Of the most
important discussed in the medical con-
gress at South Kensington, a large space
in the museum" Of specimens which is
being exhibited in connection with the
grams, photographs and microscopical
preparations illustrative Of the curative
effects Of radium.
Previous to DR.. wickham's lecture,
which formed the chief feature of the
radium debates. demonstrations had been
given on similar lines by DR.. Dominica
and DR.. Degrais of Paris. who also have
been investigating this subject. the for
mer having brought with him several
patients who had b$ep successfully treat
The points which are chiefly exercising
the minds of experts just now in this
connection are:
Can radium really cure any form OF
cancer?
If so. how does its curative influence
actually affect the tissues concerned?
Can II cure large cancers and internal
The first question really has been an
swered in the Affirmative many times, but
there are still a number of medical men
who find great difficulty in believing that
tiny particle Of radium can really de-
stroy SO deadly and firmly rooted a dis
ease as cancer. Certainly those who
heard DR.. Wickhams remarks and saw
the beautiful specimens and photographs
with which he illustrated his lecture can
no longer doubt that under certain favor
able conditions. radium can most certainly
cure cancer. And at once IL may be said
that the chief necessary conditions for
success are that the growth to be treated
shall be accessible, and that IL shall be
growth the more limited will be the bene-
fetal effects of the applications of ra-
dunn: consequently. every endeavor should
be made to insure such growths being
uCtCStCu HI TIC SoihcSl pOSSiDic StdScS.
Cases Where It Is Effective.
Under these circumstances 1t naturally
follows that the best results that have
been obtained by the radium treatment In
cancer have been where the disease has
attacked exposed parts, such as the skin
of the face and hands: also cancer of the
tongue, which is readily accessible Can
Ger of such parts can be detected from it's
very earliest stages, and owing to the
facility with which radium can be applied
to them gives the best chance of a cure
by it's effects.
Dr. wickham particularly emphasized
the fact that the influence OF radium over
cancer is by no means the simple burn
ing or caustic process that II has been
said to be by some observers. II Is well
known that radium applied to the skin
will soon produce q severe burn with
destruction Of tissue, just as the X-rays
may do, or a red hot poker; and IL there
is nothing more in the action of radium
than this IL would OF course be absurd to
use such a rare and expensive substance.
when there are so many other caustics at
hand.
The distinguished Partisan specialist was
most emphatic in his statement that,
apart from any caustic action. the rays
emitted by radium are particularly deadly
to cancer cells. and while they will pass
through normal healthy tissue without do
ing ii any harm. they at once pick out
the cancer cells for their destructive in