Evening star., 1935-02-24
New Vaccine Tested at G.. W. u.
To Combat Infantile Paralysis

human cancer in an animal by means
Of injection-indicating that some
one of the ultramicroscopic viruses
may be the responsible agent IN
cancer-also was described by DR..
Mckinley. A preparation from o
human breast cancer was injected
into the breast Of two female mon.
keys. These breasts remained normal
for several months when suspicious
growths began to appear. One Of the
monkeys died In II months. 1nten-
sive study of the growth showed, how
ever, that up to that stage 1t was
only q malignant tumor and not Q
cancer. The other money Is still liv-
ing and, said DR.. Mckinley, the
growth Is becoming more snd more
cancer like.
In any event, there appeared to be
some infective agent In the human
breast cancer that caused the new
growth in the monkey breast, even II
1t Is not malignant. # the second
monkey should prove actually to have
a cancer it might be a far-reacning
step in the better understanding OF
malignant growths.
In other words, said DR.. Mckinley,
cancer may fall into the virus field."
That there is probably a virus In
volved In some forms Of animal can
GERS already has been demonstrated.
but thus far 1t has been impossible
to verify this in the case OF mang-
nant human neo-plasms.
Other speakers at the clinic yester-
day afternoon were DR.. Charles Stan
ley White, DR.. william J. Mallory,
Or. Edward B. Veder, DR.. Jacob kotz
and DR.. Vincent du Vigneaud.
The clinic was followed by the
annual banquet Of the George WASH
ington University Medical Society at
the Mayflower last night. The guest
speaker was DR.. Evafts A. Graham,
professor of surgery at washington
University, st. Louis.
DR.. Graham Is one OF the coun-
try's foremost authorities on thoracic
surgery, which includes surgery OF the
lungs and heart.
A few years ago to say that a per-
son had been wounded in the heart
was equivalent to saying he had been
killed. But, DR.. Graham said, through
the surgical developments Of the past
few years approximately 50 per cent
of all heart wounds are not fatal II
the surgeon can get hold Of them
soon enough, that Is. In an hour or 30.
These include stabs, gunshot wounds
and especially pistol shots. A rifie
bullet through the heart, OF course,
would kill instantly, but . smaller
missile would not necessarily be fatal
for some time. In treating such
wounds It often Is necessary Tor the
surgeon to lift the heart entirely out
Of the sack in which 1t Is contained
and hold 1t In his hand-not severing
its connections.
Newest Branch Of Surgery.
Thorscic surgery, DR.. Graham ex.
planned to the Washington physicians,
is the newest branch Of surgery and
one In which some Of the greatest
progress has been made In the past
few years. One operation which now
Is perfectly feasible Is the removal Of
an entire lung. The st. Louis sur
geon himself was the first to perform
this operation two years ago and
since then there have been - repeti-
tions. The operation Is valuable for
some cancers and for certain degen-
erative conditions.
Another malady now successfully
treated by surgery, he said, Is bron-
chiectaris, o condition whose outward
gyndrome Is very similar to tuber-
culosis. It Is common among chill
dren and the victim becomes prac-
tically an outcast from society. Can
GERS Of the lungs, he said. can Be
removed successfully II they are dag
nosed In time. They used to be con-
sidered very rare, but it Is now known
that about 10 per cent Of all cancers
are located In these organs.
Another heart condition being
treated successfully by surgery. DR.
Graham said, Is the sadherent peri
cardium in which the heart becomes
attached to the surrounding struc-
lures so that its beat is intcrfered
with. It was formerly considered very
rare, but now Is being recognized
more and more.
The most fruitful field Of thoracit
surgery, Dr.. Graham said, Is In the
treatment Of tuberculosis, IN which Il
Is possible not only to bring abou,
great Improvement in the condition
OF the patient, but to sterilixe Q tuber.
ca,losis rerm carrier 20 that 1t u per
fectly safe tor him to return q
socieW' -