Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29
CANCER PRIZE GIVEN.
DR.. ALEXIS CARREL.
Won PrittWitz Presents 1890
Award and $1,000 at
Kober Day Rites.

Jung, cancer prize for 1880, awarded
him recently by an eminent German
commission in recognition of the appll-
cation OF his methods to the study Of
cancer.
The presentation of the diploma and
accompanying check for 1000 was
made by Ambassador Won PrittwitZ of
Germany on behalf of DR.. Sofle A,
Nordoh Jung, Washington physician
and member Of the medical faculty OF
Georgetown. Ambassador Claudel OF
France attended the ceremonies In
honor Of his distinguished fellow coun-
tryman, this being the first time that
the award has been made in the United
States.
DR.. Carrel, in accepting the honors.
stressed that researches of the type he
has conducted are aimed at the pre-
vention Of cancer, which he regards as
far more important than its cure.
KOber Day Rites Held.
The occasion in CASTOR Hall marked
primarily the annual Kober day cere-
monies in honor of the birthday of DR..
George M. Kober, dean emeritus of
medicine at Georgetown and leader for
40 years in the war against tuberculosis
and for sanitation. DR.. Kober, who was
81 years old yesterday, was prevented
by illness from attending the exercises
which featured the annual bestowal of
the Kober Foundation honors.
Under the provisions of the Kober
Foundation two American scientists in
medicine are singled out each year for
recognition. This year it was an
nounced that the Kober medal had been
awarded to DR.. Henry Sewan of Denver,
Colo, for his outstanding contributions
toward the cure of tuberculosis. In his
absence. the presentation will be made
on May at Atlantic City.
The annual Kober lecture was deliv-
cred last night before the distinguished
medical group by Dr. Frederick George
Novy, noted bacteriolcgist of the Uni
verslty Of Michigan. His subject was
Respiration Of Micro-O Organisms -
Both DR.. Novy and DR.. Sewall were
selected for these distinctions by the
Association of American Physicians,
the awards on alternate years being
made by the Association of Military
Surgeons and the Medical Society of
the District of Columbia.
Citation Is Read.
An exception was made in the usual
procedure of the Kober day exercises
last night by reason Of the award of the
Nordhod Jung prize for the first time
in this country. The award is made
every two years by German commits
sion, OF which DR.. Ernest Won Romberg,
professor Of medicine at the University
Of Munich, is the chairman.
Or. W. Coleman Nevis, S. j., presi-
dent Of Georgetown University, pre-
sided at the ceremonies and introduced
the German Ambassador, who read the
citation of the award as follows: I'm
the Judgment Of this commission, Dr.
Carrel has added new laurels TO his
great achievements in surgery by ex-
banding the method of tissue culture,
and by its objective application he has
vastly aided the calculation of funda-
mental questions relating to morbid
growth, especially the development Of
malignant tumors."
DR.. Nevis, In his Introductory re-
marks, referred to Georgetown's inter
egts In DR.. Carols career in view Of
the fact that for 10 years the distin-
guished surgeon had received his early
education under the Jesuits connected
with st. Joseph's College In Lyons,
ceived from the mayor OF Munich and
members Of the Nordoff Jung Commits
sion.
DR.. ROBBERS absence was commented
on by Rev. John L. Gipprich, s. j., re-
gent Of the Medical School, who read
q letter in which DR.. Kober referred to
his 81 years association with George
town. Regretting his inability to at
tend to hear the lecture Of DR.. Novy,
DR.. Kober also referred to the selection
Of DR.. Carroll for the cancer prize as
one which "augers wen for increasing
the solidarity Of international good
will"
DR.. Carrel, with characteristic mod
esty, included his laboratory assistants
for aid rendered in his remarkable dis
coveries which, in the opinion OF lead
ing scientists, have done more TO ad-
vance research in medicine and surgery
than anything since Harvey's discovery
of the circulation Of the blood.
cit is with feeling Of profound ap-
probation and pride that I have re-
ceived from the hands Of the German
Ambassador the Nordhofi Jung prize
bestowed upon me by Profs. Won ROM
berg, Sauerbruch, Doederlein and
Borst," DR.. Carrel replied.
There cannot be any higher award
for a man of science than this express
sion Of the esteem and confidence Of his
colleagues in the same profession. I
am very happy that these eminent men
have considered the results Of the re-
searches made by my associates and
myself as q useful contribution to the
study Of cancer To be the recipient Of
the Nordhof Jung prize, which was
previously awarded to Fibiger in Den
mark. to Warburg in Germany and to
Yamagiwa In Japan, for their celebrat-
ed discoveries, Is a great and excep-
tional honor.
Seeks Cause, Not Cure.
But this prize is more than an honor
TO those who receive It." he added. 1T
is an indication Of the direction along
which the committee Of German pro-
fessors selected by DR.. Nordhoff Jung
believe that the solution of the prob
lem Of cancer should be sought.
''F1biger and Yamagiwa have demon
stxated that cancer develops under the
influence Of chemicals. Warburg has
invented a method by which rtain
fundamental characteristics Of cancer
tissue have been brought 10 light. The
work which is tonight being recognized
with the prize Is leading TO the dis
covery of the specific characteristics OF
malignant cells and TO the knowledge OF
their nature.
THE silent advice of the Nordhoff-
Jung Committee seems To be that can
Ger investigations should be PUSHED ir
a straight line toward the discovery Of
the physiological basis Of the disease
Researches of such a type are slower
and less spectacular IN thu results
than those which deal with the treat
ment Of patients. But they go farther
and, sooner or later reach the ultimate
goal, that Is, the prevention OF can
Ger, which is by far more important
than its cure.
This impressive ceremony--the pres
entation Of this prize by the German
Ambassador in the presence Of the
French Ambassador and those who
have gathered in this university u
celebrate DR.. Kober's BIRTHDAYS ar
honor which I do not deserve, but
which touches me very deeply. wisE
Of GEORGETOWN University and TO tbs
1gc,,ltv If the Medical School FOR tn,