1020

In addition an intensive histological study will bemade of the breast and glands after removal in orderto find out : (a) the histological effects of radiumon carcinoma tissue ; (b) whether the treatment hasdestroyed all the tumour cells, or left areas untouched ;(c) whether carcinomatous glands are effectivelytreated by radiation ; (d) the optimum time forexcision of the breast after irradiation.The following procedure has been adopted:-On admission the site of the tumour and palpable glands,

if present, are outlined in Indian ink and photographed.Radium is then inserted into the tumour and left for sevendays ; one or more radon seeds are put in to mark thesite of the tumour, and an X ray photograph is takenwith the radium needles in situ. On removal of the radiuma small piece of the tumour is taken for biopsy. After 70to 80 days the breast and axillary glands are excised andsubjected to detailed histological examination. The breastis pinned out on a board, and hardened in formalin ; after14 days it is accurately outlined on graph paper ruled in1 cm. squares, the nipple being placed in a constant

position-n 20. The breast is then cut into vertical strips1 em. in width, each labelled so that the breast can bereconstructed. Each strip is carefully examined andsections are taken from any showing signs of growth, andeach block is marked upon the diagram.

Nineteen cases have been studied in detail in thismanner. It is, however, intended to study a series of50 cases before a definite conclusion is formulated.

EXPERIMENTAL WORK

In the purely experimental section of the reportthere will be found a summary of researches designedto elicit more about the response of living organismsto radiation, both when changes are made in the typeof radiation and the time intervals at which thedose of irradiation is given, and when changes in thephysiological condition of the cell are manifest.

There can be no doubt that the outcome of theresearch in radium therapy initiated by the MedicalResearch Council at centres all over the country hasdone two things : it has helped towards the stabilisa-tion of methods of treatment, and it has shown thatthe reaction of the tissues of the body to this formof radiation is of the most complex and bewilderingvariety.

LONDON MEDICAL SOCIETIES

AT the opening of a new session we are again givingfor the convenience of our readers the names of

presidents and hon. secretaries of London medicalsocieties, with the addresses at which they can beapproached.Royal Society of Medicine.-President: Dr. Robert

Hutchison. Hon. secretaries : Mr. C. W. Gordon Bryan.and Dr. Anthony Feiling. (1, Wimpole-street, W.I.)

Medical Society of London.-President: The LordBorder. Hon. secretaries : Dr. H. E. A. Boldero andMr. C. P. G. Wakeley. (11, Chandos-street, W.I.)

Hunterian <S’oce/.&mdash;President : Dr. W. H. F. Oxley.Hon. secretaries : Mr. Martin Oldershaw and Mr. A. E.Porritt. (26, Upper Wimpole-street, W.I.)Harveian Society.-President: Dr. A. Hope Gosse.

Hon. secretaries : Dr. T. C. Hunt and Dr. A. D. Morris.12, Queen Anne-street, W.1.)

Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.-President : Sir Leonard Rogers, F.R.S. Hon. secretaries :Dr. C. M. Wenyon, F.R.S., and Dr. N. Hamilton Fairley.(Manson House, 26, Portland-place, W.I.)

Royal Medico-Psychological Association.-President : Dr.Daniel Rambaut. Hon. general secretary : Dr. ReginaldWorth. (Secretary’s Office, 11, Chandos-street, W.I.)

Society of Medical Officers of Health.-President: Dr.R. Veitch Clark. Executive secretary: Mr. G. L. C.Elliston. (1, Upper Montague-street, Russell-square,W.C.I.)

Tuberculosis Association.&mdash;President : Dr. L. S. T.Burrell. Hon. secretary : Dr. F. R. G. Heaf. (ColindaleHospital, Hendon, N.W.9.)

British Institute of Radiology.-President: : Mr. G.Shearer, D.Sc. Hon. secretary : Dr. R. Boulton Mylesand Mr. G. E. Bell, M.Se. (32, Welbeck-street, W.I.)

Medico-Legal Society.--President : Sir BernardSpilsbury. Hon. secretaries : Mr. Ernest Goddard andDr. W. G. Barnard. (3, South-square, Gray’s Inn, W.C.1.)London Association of the Medical Women’s Federation.-

President : Dr. E. M. Pickard. Hon. secretary : Mrs.Philippa Martin. (40, Wimpole-street, W.I.)

Medical Society of Individual Psychology.-Chairman:Dr. J. C. Young. Hon. secretary : Dr. 0. H. Woodcock.(22, Ridge-hill, N.W.11.)

Society for the Study of Inebriety.-President : : SirHumphry Rolleston. Hon. secretary : Dr. T. N. Kelynack.(144, Harley-street, W.I.)The Cancer Society.-President: Dr. A. J. C. Magian.

Hon. secretaries : Dr. C. F. Marshall and Dr. D. F.Kennard. (11, Chandos-street, W.I.)London Jewish Hospital Medical Society.-President:

Prof. Charles Singer. Hon. general secretary : Dr. MaxSorsby. (London Jewish Hospital, Stepney Green, E.I.)

St. John’s Hospital Dermatological Society.-President:Dr. J. E. M. Wigley. Hon. secretary : Dr. I. Muende.(49, Leicester-square, W.C.I.)

Chelsea Clinical Society.&mdash;President : Dr. CharlesSundell. Hon. secretaries : Mr. A. Rugg-Gunn and Mr.H. Paxton Baylis. (35, Harley-street, W.1.)Hackney Medical Society.-Chairman: Dr. A. J.

Ambrose. Hon. secretary: Dr. H. Stark. (26, StokeNewington-common, N.16.)Hampstead Medical Society.-President: Dr. J. Alison

Glover. Hon. secretaries : Dr. James Fairbrother andMr. John Kennedy. (2, Fawley-road, N.W.6.)

North Lorrdon Medical and Chirurgical Society.-President : Dr. J. H. Morton. Hon. secretaries: Dr.W. E. Snell and Dr. J. Campbell Maxwell. (Royal NorthernHospital, N.7.)

North-West London Medical Society.-President:- SirHarold Gillies. Hon. secretary : Mr. Lionel Green. (127,Harley-street, W.I.)

Priory Medical Society.-Hon. secretary : Dr. T.Pearse Williams. (112, Harley-street, W.I.)

South-West London Medical Society.-President: Dr.W. J. Morrish. Hon. secretaries : Dr. E. G. Housden andDr. A. W. Wells. (51, Longley-road, S.W.17.)

Paddington Medical Society.-President: Dr. W. G.Bendle. Hon. secretary : Dr. Saul Crown. (81, Elgin-avenue, W.9.)

West London Medico-Chirurgical Society.-President:Dr. Howard M. Stratford. Hon. secretaries : Dr. GeoffreyKonstam and Mr. James Kemble. (40, Harley-street, W.I.)

West Kent Medical Society.-President : Dr. L. W. Bain.Hon. secretary : Dr. C. J. B. Buchanan. (267, Baring-road,Grove Park, S.E.12.)

SALE OF CHRISTMAS SEALS.&mdash;The National Asso-ciation for the Prevention of Tuberculosis is againorganising a sale of Christmas seals to providefunds for the development of tuberculosis work allover Great Britain. The idea originally came from aDanish postal clerk, who decided that every letter andpackage at Christmas time could bear another stamp,which would be sold for the benefit of a hospital fortuberculous children. The scheme has spread to othercountries, and last year it was tried successfully in thiscountry. Sheets of seals may be had from the organisingsecretary of the association, Tavistock House North,Tavistock-square, London, W.C.I.