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FROM THE PRESS GALLERY
667 FROM THE PRESS GALLERY Cancer Bill in the Lords the second reading of the Cancer Bill in’ MOVING the House of Lords on March 14 the Duke of DEVONSHIRE, parliamentary under-secretary for the dominions, said that the bill was an administrative measure, primarily intended to promote the diagnosis and treatment of cancer rather than research into its nature and causes. If more money was required for cancer research it could be otherwise providedfor example, by an increased grant to the Medical Research Council. The Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the British Empire Cancer Campaign between them spent JE90,000 annually on research, and a clinical cancer research committee had now been formed to investigate the 17,000 new cases of cancer admitted to London hospitals each year. Arrangements were being made to secure adequate records of cases treated under the bill, but its main object was to make available the benefits of know-
ledge already acquired.
Lord BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH moved an amendment expressing regret that the bill did not contain a provision for increased research into the cause and treatment of cancer. The policy of the Government The was, he feared, lop-sided and incomplete. methods of treatment on which the Government were founding this great experiment were surgery, radium and X rays, and of these the last two were still in their infancy. The current report of the Medical Research Council showed how very tentative the advance was, and how very far they were from having any certainty that even in early stages a cure could be effected. It seemed to him unwise to be contemplating an expenditure of 6600,000 or more on treatment which was tentative, when new methods were constantly coming into view that might supersede the methods to which they were This great effort towards now pinning their faith. treatment should be accompanied by a parallel effort with further research, not only into radiotherapeutics, but into the fundamental causes of the disease. Viscount DAwsorr OF PENN welcomed the bill on behalf of the medical profession, but there was in their minds one reserve which had just been eloquently stated by Lord Balfour, who was chairman of the Medical Research Council. Here was a great opportunity for combating the scourge of cancer. Cancer was a disease which discriminated little between one class of the community and another. There had been a definite improvement and increase of knowledge in the treatment of the disease. The bill was justified because it would bring to all classes and conditions of people the advantages of that knowledge. But it was to him almost incomprehensible that a big scheme of this kind for extending the benefits of knowledge to the masses of the people should have been launched without a research scheme at its head, instead of allowing such a scheme, in some few years perhaps, to be affixed to its tail. In a subject like this they needed a research unit at its head to explore new avenues, settle differences of opinion, give light and leading to those centres which were concentrating upon routine, and who were compelled to apply themselves day by day to the patients who sought their advice. Even looking at the matter from an economic point of view the cost of a research unit would be met many times over before two years had passed. He besought the Government to start the movement with a research unit. Scottish Coal Refuse In the House of Commons on March 10 the Public Health (Coal Mine Refuse) (Scotland) Bill was read a second time. This measure seeks to amend the Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897, with respect to coal mine refuse liable to spontaneous combustion. Mr. Mathers, who sponsored the bill on its introduction, explained that its purpose was to bring the law of Scotland in respect of these deposits into line with that of England and Wales.
QUESTION TIME WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8 Health Services in Kenya Colony
Mr.. DAVID ADAMS asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the previous shortage of trained teachers in the education services, and of trained staff in the medical and health services of Kenya Colony had now been fully overcome ; and, if not, what steps were being taken to this end.-Mr. MALCOLM MACDONALD replied : Under present economic conditions it is quite out of the question for the Government of Kenya, or of any other African dependency, to provide all the trained medical and educational staff that could usefully be employed, nor do I foresee any possibility of fully meeting requirements until the African himself has been trained to carry out these services among his own people. I hope that Makerere College will help considerably to provide this trained African personnel. Mr. ADAMS : I take it that the shortage is being
gradually
overcome ?
Mr. MACDONALD:
As far
as
financial considerations
permit. Nutritional
in the Colonial Empire Mr. MATHERS asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a nutritional survey, such as that which was being carried out in Nyasaland, was contemplated in any other part of the Colonial Empire ; and whether it was correct to regard this survey in Nyasaland as the first of a series.-Mr. MALCOLM MACDONALD replied : The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.
Surveys
Medical and Dental Naval Officers In reply to a question by Mr. PARKER, Mr. SnAKEsrBARE, to the Admiralty, stated that among the naval officers who entered the service in the calendar year 1938 there were 35 medical officers (lst appointments) and 15 dental officers (lst appointments). There were also 4 entries of warrant officers into the
parliamentary secretary
medical branch. THURSDAY,
MARCH
9
Control of Medical Supplies for Civil Defence Dr. SUMMERSKILL asked the Minister of Health if arrangements had yet been made in the event of hostilities for the governmental control of medical supplies and distribution to those areas which would be most vulnerable to attack from the air.-Mr. ELLIOT replied : Yes, Sir. Reserves of medical supplies for the treatment of air-raid casualties are being purchased in bulk by the Government and will be distributed for storage, mainly at hospitals, in the area of each scheme-making authority. Milk Pasteurisation Mrs. TATE asked the Minister of Health whether he
appoint a royal commission under a chairman of judicial experience to investigate the whole question of pasteurisation of milk in the light both of foreign experience would
and of statistical material now available, and to hear evidence from all sides.-Mr. ELLIOT replied : I do not think that the appointment of a royal commission on this subject would serve a useful purpose.
Diphtheria Immunisation Mr. DAVID ADAMS asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that immunisation was now commonly used in the prevention of diphtheria and that in certain areas this form of treatment was not in general use, he had considered the desirability of issuing a circular to local authorities upon this matter.-Mr. ELLIOT replied : A memorandum on the production of artificial immunity against diphtheria was issued to medical officers of health in 1933. This memorandum is at present being revised with a view to its reissue. Mr. LEACH asked the Minister of Health whether he would investigate, or request the Medical Research Committee to investigate, the diphtheria records of other countries besides the United States of America and Canada, and particularly those of Sweden and Switzerland, in view
ledge already acquired.
Lord BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH moved an amendment expressing regret that the bill did not contain a provision for increased research into the cause and treatment of cancer. The policy of the Government The was, he feared, lop-sided and incomplete. methods of treatment on which the Government were founding this great experiment were surgery, radium and X rays, and of these the last two were still in their infancy. The current report of the Medical Research Council showed how very tentative the advance was, and how very far they were from having any certainty that even in early stages a cure could be effected. It seemed to him unwise to be contemplating an expenditure of 6600,000 or more on treatment which was tentative, when new methods were constantly coming into view that might supersede the methods to which they were This great effort towards now pinning their faith. treatment should be accompanied by a parallel effort with further research, not only into radiotherapeutics, but into the fundamental causes of the disease. Viscount DAwsorr OF PENN welcomed the bill on behalf of the medical profession, but there was in their minds one reserve which had just been eloquently stated by Lord Balfour, who was chairman of the Medical Research Council. Here was a great opportunity for combating the scourge of cancer. Cancer was a disease which discriminated little between one class of the community and another. There had been a definite improvement and increase of knowledge in the treatment of the disease. The bill was justified because it would bring to all classes and conditions of people the advantages of that knowledge. But it was to him almost incomprehensible that a big scheme of this kind for extending the benefits of knowledge to the masses of the people should have been launched without a research scheme at its head, instead of allowing such a scheme, in some few years perhaps, to be affixed to its tail. In a subject like this they needed a research unit at its head to explore new avenues, settle differences of opinion, give light and leading to those centres which were concentrating upon routine, and who were compelled to apply themselves day by day to the patients who sought their advice. Even looking at the matter from an economic point of view the cost of a research unit would be met many times over before two years had passed. He besought the Government to start the movement with a research unit. Scottish Coal Refuse In the House of Commons on March 10 the Public Health (Coal Mine Refuse) (Scotland) Bill was read a second time. This measure seeks to amend the Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897, with respect to coal mine refuse liable to spontaneous combustion. Mr. Mathers, who sponsored the bill on its introduction, explained that its purpose was to bring the law of Scotland in respect of these deposits into line with that of England and Wales.
QUESTION TIME WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8 Health Services in Kenya Colony
Mr.. DAVID ADAMS asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the previous shortage of trained teachers in the education services, and of trained staff in the medical and health services of Kenya Colony had now been fully overcome ; and, if not, what steps were being taken to this end.-Mr. MALCOLM MACDONALD replied : Under present economic conditions it is quite out of the question for the Government of Kenya, or of any other African dependency, to provide all the trained medical and educational staff that could usefully be employed, nor do I foresee any possibility of fully meeting requirements until the African himself has been trained to carry out these services among his own people. I hope that Makerere College will help considerably to provide this trained African personnel. Mr. ADAMS : I take it that the shortage is being
gradually
overcome ?
Mr. MACDONALD:
As far
as
financial considerations
permit. Nutritional
in the Colonial Empire Mr. MATHERS asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a nutritional survey, such as that which was being carried out in Nyasaland, was contemplated in any other part of the Colonial Empire ; and whether it was correct to regard this survey in Nyasaland as the first of a series.-Mr. MALCOLM MACDONALD replied : The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.
Surveys
Medical and Dental Naval Officers In reply to a question by Mr. PARKER, Mr. SnAKEsrBARE, to the Admiralty, stated that among the naval officers who entered the service in the calendar year 1938 there were 35 medical officers (lst appointments) and 15 dental officers (lst appointments). There were also 4 entries of warrant officers into the
parliamentary secretary
medical branch. THURSDAY,
MARCH
9
Control of Medical Supplies for Civil Defence Dr. SUMMERSKILL asked the Minister of Health if arrangements had yet been made in the event of hostilities for the governmental control of medical supplies and distribution to those areas which would be most vulnerable to attack from the air.-Mr. ELLIOT replied : Yes, Sir. Reserves of medical supplies for the treatment of air-raid casualties are being purchased in bulk by the Government and will be distributed for storage, mainly at hospitals, in the area of each scheme-making authority. Milk Pasteurisation Mrs. TATE asked the Minister of Health whether he
appoint a royal commission under a chairman of judicial experience to investigate the whole question of pasteurisation of milk in the light both of foreign experience would
and of statistical material now available, and to hear evidence from all sides.-Mr. ELLIOT replied : I do not think that the appointment of a royal commission on this subject would serve a useful purpose.
Diphtheria Immunisation Mr. DAVID ADAMS asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that immunisation was now commonly used in the prevention of diphtheria and that in certain areas this form of treatment was not in general use, he had considered the desirability of issuing a circular to local authorities upon this matter.-Mr. ELLIOT replied : A memorandum on the production of artificial immunity against diphtheria was issued to medical officers of health in 1933. This memorandum is at present being revised with a view to its reissue. Mr. LEACH asked the Minister of Health whether he would investigate, or request the Medical Research Committee to investigate, the diphtheria records of other countries besides the United States of America and Canada, and particularly those of Sweden and Switzerland, in view