The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-11-26
MAKE STRIDES IN
CANCER RESEARCH
Artificial Tumors Produced in
White Rats by Infesting
Them With Parasites.
x-RAY MACHINE is IMPROVED
Rays Of Unusual Power Developed by
Recently Perfected Apparatus
Will Greatly Aid in Cures
Is Notable Advance.


New York-What is called "a mos
important and far-reaching contribu
ton to cancer research" Is made
known by DR.. Francis Carter Wood, di
rector of the Columbia University In
stitute of Cancer Research, endowed
by George Croker, In report to Pres
ident Nicholas Murray Butler.
Doctor Wood states that two Of the
workers in the Columbia laboratories
DR.. Frederick D. Bullock and Miss NJ
r. Curtis, Phi. D., both ranking as asso
ciate in cancer research, have discov.
cred means of producing cancer arti-
ficially in rats, large numbers Of which
are constantly used in Columbia q
work of cancer research.
after five years of hard work,
says Doctor Wood. Doctors Bullock
and Curtis have finally shown that #
white rats be infested with the eggs
of certain parasite and kept for a
period of not less than eight months,
tumors will develop about the areas in
which the parasites are present, and
that these tumOrs are virulent cancers
which rapidly kill the animals in
which they start and can easily be
transplanted to others.
''This is not the first time that can
Ger has been produced arttficially. 1t
is just 146 years since the London sur
geOn Pott showed that certain types Of
cancer follow certain occupations in
which irritating substances come In
contact with the body. The best known
of these types Of cancer is the Chin
ney-sweeps cancer, which developed to
such an extent in England that laws
were passed regulating the conditions
under which chimney sweeping could
be done.
Names Forms Of Cancers.
"Other forms Of irritation cancer are
the well-known Kangri basket cancer
OF the Kashmir native, the betel-nut
cancer on the inner surface of the
cheek among Malays and Filipinos,
and the cancers following chronic x
ray dermatitis. 1t has also been known
that 1t Is possible to obtain consider
able number Of cancers in animals by
inbreeding cancerous strains, but some
years are required to get enough stock,
the number of tumors so obtained is
not always large, and the time of their
appearance cannot be determined, SO
that experiments requiring many tu-
mors cannot be planned.
Another means of inducing cancer
has been by painting the skin OF an
animal with tar. This experiment is
based upon the observation that work
ers in briquette factories, where the
skin Of the hands is constantly in con-
tact with tar not infrequently develop
cancer. Professor Fibiger of Copen
hagen has shown also that cancers can
De produced in the stomachs of rats
by feeding the animals on a certain
parasite, but here also the actual per-
.entage of production is small.
in the method devised in this lab
,ratory, however, the yield is very con-
siderable, over half the animals of Z
certain strain developing cancer.
Doctor Wood quotes Dr. J. A. MUIR
ay, director Of the Imperial Cancer
Research Fund, London, a noted inves-
igator Of cancer, as saying recently
hat zone Of the great disadvantages
Which retards progress in the study of
ANGER is the absence Of means Of
the diseases at will in exper-
mental animals"
with the discovery made in this
aboratory." Doctor Wood adds, this
isadvantage no longer exists"
Doctor Wood reports the construc-
on of new machine through which,
uring the coming winter, will be add ,
new and important facts to the G
cry vital question of the treatment of "
ANGER by X-ray."
Seek Hiah-Power x-Rays
"There has been under considera-
on for some time" he continues, dis
lssing experimental work, 1.-The cree
On of an apparatus for the produc-
On Of q direct current at high volt
res in order to produce X-rays of I'M
ual power, as the limitations of the
machine in certain MODES
treatment are obvious.
1.-THE matter had been discussed in
informal way during the last two
three years with number of ex-
rts, among them Professor Duane J
d Professor Davis, and at the last
nual meeting of the Croker board
was proposed that the accrued in
me Of the Bondy fund be devoted
the construction of more power
| constant current X-ray apparatus
an had yet been attempted, with the
cessary equipment to permit Of ac-
rate determinations in physical
its of the exact quantity OF radia
n given off by the X-ray tubes.
Many unforeseen difficulties in the