The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1922-03-08
Artificial Tumors Produced lK
White Rats by |nfestinQ
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 1Ork.-What is called "a most
important and far-reaching contribu-
ton to cancer research is made
known by DIR. Francis Carter Wood, di-
rector OF the Columbia University In
stitute Of Cancer Research, endowed
by George Croker, in a report to Pres
ident Nicholas Murray Butler.
Doctor Wood states that two of the
workers in the Columbia laboratories.
Or. Frederick u. Bullock and Miss NJ.
K. Curtis, Ph. D., both ranking rs asso-
ciate in cancer research, have discov-
cred a means of producing cancer arti-
fcially III rats, large numbers of which
are constantly used In Columbia's
work Of cancer research.
After five years Of hard work."
says Doctor Wood, Doctors Bullock
and Curtis have finally shown that if
white rats be infested with the eggs
of "a 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 kin the animals In
which they start and can easily be
transplanted to others.
This Is not the first time that AN
Ger has been produced artificially. 1t
Is just 146 years since the London SUI
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
we're passed regulating the conditions
under which chimney sweeping could
be done.
Names Forms Of Cancers. "A
Other forms Of irritation cancer are
the well-knOwn Kangri basket cancer
Of the kashmir native, the betel-nut
cancer OF the inner surface of the
cheek among Malays and Filipinos,
and the cancers following chronic X
ray dermatitis. 1t has also been known
that it Is possible to obtain a 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, Sc
that experiments requiring many tn
mors n be planned.
Another means of inducing lancer
has been by painting the skin Of an
animal with tar. This experiment Is
based upon the observation that work
ers in b%riquette factories, where the
skin Of the hands Is constantly in con
tact with tar, not i~nfrequently develop
cancer. Professor Fibiger Of COpera-
hagen has shown also that cancers can
be produced In the stomachs of rats
by feeding the animals on a certain
parasite, but here also the actual per-
centage of production is small.
In the method devised in this lab
oratory, however, the yield is very on
siderable, over half the animals OF 4
certain strain developing cancer.
Doctor Wood quotes DIR. ]. A. Muir
ray, director of the Imperial Cancer
Research Fund, London, a noted inves-
tigator OF cancer, as saying recently
that zone of the great disadvantages
which retards progress in the study OF
cancer is the absence Of q means at
producing the diseases at will in exper-
mental animals
with the discovery made in this
laboratory" Doctor Wood adds, this
disadvantage no longer exists"
Doctor Wood reports the construc-
ton Of a new machine through which,
during the coming winter, will be add
ed new and important facts to the
very vital question OF tie treatment Ok
canoe by X-ray."
Seek High-Power x-Rays.
"'rhers has been under considera-
ton for some time" he continues, dis
GUESSING experimental work, the erec-
ton Of an apparatus for the produc-
ton Of a direct current at high volt
ages in order to produce X-rays Of un-
usual power, as the limitations Of the
commercial machine in certain modes
Of treatment are obvious.
THE matter had been discussed in
an informal way during the last tive
VI = NaAo a q 0AlON Va GA.
perts. among them Professor Duane
and Professor Davis, and at the last
annual meeting Of the Croker board
it was proposed that the accrued In
come Of the Bondy fund be devoted
to the construction of q more power
full constant current X-ray apparatus
than had yet been attempted, with the
necessary equipment to permit Of &C
curate determinations in physical
units cf the exact quantity Of radia-
ton given or by the X-ray tubes.
Many unforeseen difficulties In -
obtaining Of equipment and materioae
have, Of course, arisen. n IL usual
the construction OF research a-pparafns-
but the machine has already beea ~
for considerable periods, deliv6fi1a
continuous current It high vl1
and giyea proInia that Il WIN
b capahla Of fSsnlshane Mt