Evening star., 1951-10-03
British Pafho|ogist
Says Virus Against
Cancer Is In Sight
By Wallace {. CIoyton

sight of success" in a search for 8
virus which will destroy human
cancer cells and leave normal cells
unharmed.
DR.. Geoffrey Hadfeld, professor
of pathology of the Royal College
of Surgeons, London, pointed out
that some compounds have beer
developed in laboratory research
which are harmless to normal
cells, but because of substituted
chemical groupings are highly
lethal to cancer cells.
This is a vast field for re-
search, but in view of the success
of the fundamental experiments ii
is certainly not unreasonable to
hope that with patience and de-
termination, the ideal selective
killing agent will eventually be
found" DR.. Hadfield said.
Cancer Cause Unknown.
IT believe this line of attack to
be the most promising under in
vestigation, DR.. Hadf1eld told
physicians attending the District
Medical Society's 22d Annual Sci
entif1c Assembly at the Hotel
Statler. He spoke at a luncheon
sponsored by the George Wash
ington University Medical So
ciety.
DR.. Hadfield said the medical
profession is almost completely
ignorant" of the basic reasons
why certain cells in the body be-
come cancerous. However, he
said, this does not constitute a
valid reason why we should not
attempt to kill those cancer cells
if an agent lethal to the cancer
but harmless to other cells is de-
veloped
He pointed out that malaria
was treated successfully by qui-
nine long before the malarial
parasite was discovered.
Experimental Approach Upheld.
Dr.. Hadfield. who is in this
country in connection with a re-
search program on breast cancer.
which is to be carried on at the
Royal College. called for closer
cooperation between clinical re-
searchers and laboratory workers.
There is a tendency at present
to decry the experimental ap-
proach to the cancer problem
chiefly because the two types of
research have been moving along
parallel lines and failing to meet, y
the British scientist said.
This is partly due to the
fact that the laboratory worker,
using the experimental animal as
his test object, has developed the
habit of publishing his results in
highly technical language which
his clinical colleague finds difficult
to understand"
After a discussion of obstetrical
problems. the three-day assembly
will end with banquet and
dance tonight.
Judge Youngdahl to Speak.
District Court Judge Luther w.
Youngdahl, former Governor CT
Minnesota who was sworn in Mon
day as a member of the District
bench will make his first Washing
ton speech at the banuet at 8 pm.
DR.. Edgar P. Copeland, veteran
Washington educator and physi-
opo1 ~ 40 AFpo
Donald, long time District coroner
and a former president of the
District Society, will receive cer-
tificates of meritorious service to
the community at the Hotel Stat
Ter celebration.
The first clinical report here on
a relatively new, mild virus-type
illness, known as "cat scratch dis
ease" was presented to, the at
tending physicians yesterday by
DR.. Frank G. MacMurray, clinical
instructor in medicine at the
George Washington University
School of Medicine.
Swelling Chief Characteristics.
DR.. MacMurray and DR.. Worth
B. Daniels. professor of clinica;
medicine at the Georgetown Uni
versity School of Medicine, have
treated about 20 Washington-a area
cases of the disease in the last
year.
DR.. MacMurray said the disease
is characterized chiefly by swelling
of lymph nodes. fever and sore
throat. Symptoms of the disease,
particularly the swelling of the
nodes, may remain for months,
he said.
knowledge of the disease is i'm
portant. chiefly because its Symp-
toms often lead it to be diagnosed
as such more serious illnesses as
tuberculosis, Hodgkin's disease
Zone of the cancer group and
rabbit fever, DR.. MacMurray said.
The disease derives its feline
name from the fact that it often
follows the scratch of cat. The
area around the scratch some
times becomes inflamed and in
fected.
Other Sources Cited.
However, DR.. MacMurray said,
cases have been studied in which
there had been no known direct
contact with a cat.
He said cases have followed an
insect bite, a scratch from rose
bush or a splinter wound.
Cat scratch disease was first
reported in 1882, although little
attention was paid it until 1947,
when French scientist discussed
it in a medical publication. Since
then, about 100 cases have been
reported in Europe.
At meeting last night. spon-
sored by the World Health Or
ganization, DR.. Winfred Over
holser, superintendent of St.
Elizabeths Hospital, was speaker.
't,..,.s,N