July 15, 1909] 



NA TURE 



Reviewing the results of seven years' work on the com- 

 parative and experimental investigation of cancer, says the 

 general superintendent in his report, one is struck by 

 the difference between the nature of the problems before us 

 seven years ago and of those now being considered, as 

 well as by the freedom one feels in investigating the 

 problems presented to-day, without the incubus of having 

 to consider them from the standpoints of the many hypo- 

 theses now proved to be untenable. I do not think that 

 too much is claimed by asserting that the arduous labour 

 of the past seven years is gradually effecting, and in 

 several respects has actually effected, a complete revolu- 

 tion in many aspects of the cancer problem. But it has 

 done still more in opening up new vistas in biology. 

 Seven years ago no one conceived it possible that portions 

 of the mammalian organism could be kept growing for a 

 period four times the length of life of the whole 

 animal. But to-day the number of different kinds of 

 tissues now being propagated separately make it theoretic- 

 ally possible that the majority of the tissues may be so 

 grown and segregated. In other words, a living animal 

 can be analysed into many of its living component tissues. 

 The finer relations of various kinds of tissues to one 

 another have been revealed by the application of the new 

 methods. The biological alterations which living mamnia- 

 lian cells may undergo suddenly, as well as gradually, 

 under the influence of experimental conditions, can now 

 be studied. These and many other achievements in the 

 field of general biology are the most important practical 

 fruits which have accrued from the experimental study of 

 . cancer, upon which they have only indirect bearings. 

 Ultimately they are bound to be of far-reaching general 

 biological importance, although to-day they are merely the 

 weapons that have been forged to attack cancer. Their 

 further development and their utilisation for the solution 

 of purely biological problems will probably precede the solu- 

 tion of many of the problems surrounding the nature and 

 causes of cancer. 



While some chance opportunity may yield results of 

 immediate practical moment, the outlook on therapeutics 

 in the meantime is in the direction of preventing dis- 

 semination or metastasis. The means of explaining why 

 inoculated cancer can undergo spontaneous cure have been 

 greatly enriched by the acquisition of fresh strains of pro- 

 pagable tumours behaving in a variety of ways in this 

 respect, and presenting all gradations from some growing 

 progressively in everv animal inoculated, to others which, 

 while developing for a time in every animal, are ultimately 

 got rid of in all cases by the active resistance which the 

 tumours induce against themselves. 



In acknowledging a vote of thanks, the Prince of Wales 

 said, during the course of his remarks : — " When presid- 

 ing over this committee on previous occasions I have 

 expressed the view that immediate results in regard to the 

 cure of cancer must not be counted upon, but that rather 

 we must look forward to steady and consistent progress 

 in accordance with the experience of all scientific investiga- 

 tion. There can be no doubt, however, that the seven 

 years' work already accomplished by the fund has brought 

 about a complete change in the standpoints from which 

 cancer should be studied. The manv and varied lines of 

 research are being pursued with the utmost perseverance, 

 and every development, as it occurs, is followed up with 

 the minutest care. During the past year an important 

 work — the third scientific report — has been issued from 

 our laboratories, and has been received with appreciation 

 by all those at home and abroad who are competent to 

 express opinions on these highly technical researches. This 

 of itself marks a steadv and valuable advance, and one of 

 which we have every reason to be satisfied. 



SCOTTISH EXPEDITION TO SPITSBERGEN. 



■r)R. WILLI.^M S. BRUCE, of the Scottish Oceano- 

 graphical Laboratory, is conducting another expedi- 

 tion to Prince Charles Foreland and other parts of Spits- 

 bergen. One of the chief objects of the expedition is to 

 complete the survey of Prince Charles Foreland which he 

 began in association with H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco in 

 1906 and continued in 1907. He will also connect this sur- 



NO. 2072, VOL. 81] 



vey with the mainland of Spitsbergen across Foul Sound, 

 thus joining up the work of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco, 

 the late Captain Guissez, Captain Bourse, and Captain 

 Isachsen in the north-west of Spitsbergen. 



In 1907, Dr. Bruce brought back geological collections 

 which have been described by Dr. G. W. Lee, of H.M. 

 Geological Survey of Scotland, in a paper read to the 

 Royal Physical Society, Edinburgh. These rocks and 

 fossils entirely change previous opinions of the geology of 

 Prince Charles Foreland, which was thought to be Silurian, 

 whereas the rocks of Prince Charles Foreland consist, 

 first, of a series of metamorphic crystalline schists, quartz- 

 ites, and non-fossiliferous shales and hard grey limestones ; 

 secondly, of the fossiliferous limestone, probably permo-Car- 

 boniferous ; and, thirdly, of grey shales containing the re- 

 mains of dicotyledonous plants of Tertiary age. This time 

 Dr. Bruce will carry with him a specially strong geological 

 staff, and he hopes to clear up definitely the whole geology 

 of Prince Charles Foreland and the neighbouring coasts of 

 the mainland. 



A special study of the botany of the Foreland will be 

 made. Dr. Rudmose Brown carrying on that special part 

 of the work. Dr. Bruce's staff consists of Mr. J. V. Burn 

 Murdoch, who accompanied him to Prince Charles Fore- 

 land in 1907; Mr, John Mathieson, of H.M. Ordnance 

 Survey of Scotland, who will take entire charge of the 

 survey work; Dr. R. N. Rudmose Brown, late botanist of 

 the Scotia, at present lecturer on geography, Sheffield 

 LIniversity ; Mr. Ernest A. Miller, who accompanied Dr. 

 Bruce in 1906, and has since been attached to the meteor- 

 ological and magnetical service of the Argentine Republic, 

 having wintered at Scotia Bay, South Orkneys, during the 

 last vear. Mr. H. Hannay and Mr. A. M. Peach are the 

 geologists, and Mr. Alastair Geddes will also accompany 

 the expedition. 



Dr. Bruce has chartered the steamer Conqueror, which 

 is being specially re-fitted for the purpose, and has selected 

 as master of the ship Captain Francis Napier, who has 

 been kindly lent by Messrs. James Currie and Co., Leith. 

 The expedition will leave Leith on Monday next, July 19, 

 and is expected to be absent about two months. 



We understand that this expedition, which will be Dr. 

 Bruce's ninth visit to the polar regions, in no way inter- 

 feres with his future .Antarctic plans. 



BIRD NOTES. 

 'TO the May number of Naturen Mr. O. J. Lie-Pettersen 

 ' contributes an account of the life-history of the 

 icterine tree-warbler {Hypolais icterina or H. hypolais) in 

 Norway, where it is known as the " bastard nattergale." 

 The dates of arrival in the neighbourhood of Bergen during 

 a period of eleven years range from May 16-20 inclusive ; 

 birds of the year take their departure about the middle of 

 July, and old birds some weeks later. By the middle of 

 August nearly all have vanished, although an occasional 

 straggler may le seen up to the end of that month, and 

 one specimen was so late as September. Among the trees 

 haunted by this species the hazel is the favourite ; nesting 

 takes place at the end of May or early part of June, and 

 the period of incubation is thirteen days. 



The April number of the Emu contains the minutes oi 

 a conference on Government bird-protection in Australia, 

 held at Melbourne in November, 1908. A large number 

 of species and subspecies were recommended for total pro- 

 tection, among these being lyre-birds, coachwhip-birds, 

 emeus, and cassowaries. Owing, however, to the confer- 

 ence being unable to prepare a protection Bill, on account 

 of the relations existing between the Commonwealth and 

 its constituent States, it was eventually decided^ that the 

 list of species and groups recommended for protection should 

 be submitted to each State for favourable consideration. 

 The urgent need for efficient legislation in this direction 

 is made evident by a statement on another page of the 

 same issue with regard to a recent wholesale slaughter of 

 emeus. 



To Mr. L. J. Cole we are indebted for a copy of a paper 

 from the April number of the Auk on the importance^ of 

 " tagging," or marking, birds as a means of studying 

 their movements. It is pointed out by the author that we 

 are still nearly as much in the dark as regards the true 



