THE C H E M I C A L W O R L D THIS WEEK means of a special intra-arterial catheter technique explained in a paper by H. K. Biernian, R. L. Byron, and Keith Kelly. Dr. Biernian emphasized that this is not a cure, but explained that in a study of 92 patients results had been encouraging. Symptoms were eased and t h e growth of some tumors halted, he said. T h e method of intra-arterial chemotherapy is still in the stage of development, he pointed out. hut as n e w e r a n d better chemical agents are employed t h e results should improve. A n accidental discovery' O I a chemical method of liver cancer inhibition in rats was reported b y M. L. Richardson and Lew Cunningham, Oregon Medical School. Dr. Richardson explained that when small air. r nts of 20-methylcholanthrene in b e n z e n e were applied topically to rats which h a d been fed 3'-methyl-4dimethylaminoazobenzene, there "was no development of liver cancer. In all other cases ingestion of the azo dye brings about cancer i n the rats. H e suggested the possibility of the influence of hor mones. W h e n both chemicals w e r e used simultaneously a degeneration of the mid dle layer of t h e animals' adrenal cortex was observed, he said. In males, the testes also atrophied, but, according to Richardson, it was not determined whether this completely destroyed hor mone production in these tissues. O t h e r work along this same line was reported by H. P. Morris, H. I. Firminger and C. D. Green, National C a n c e r Insti tute. T h e i r experiments suggested that testosterone plays an important role in the susceptibility to liver cancer chemi cally induced. Dr. Morris explained that when male rats are fed 2-diacetylaminofluorene, they generally develop liver cancer; on the other h a n d , female rats are relatively resistant to the development of the cancer w h e n fed t h e same diet. W h e n the male rats were castrated they were just as resistant to the induced cancer as the normal females, he added. Another rat cancer inducing chemical, paradiin e t h y 1 a m i η ο a ζ ο h e η ζ e η e. w a s tagged with t h e stable nitrogen 15 isotope for studies by Max Berenbom a n d Julius White. National Cancer Institute. They found that 90*7r of t h e nitrogen derived from the cancer-producing chemical was eliminated from the animals* body in 72 hours. Only a very small amount of the compound was found in the liver at any time, they said. Upon special invitation, A. C. Ivy, Uni versity of Illinois, spoke before t h e group. Dr. Ivy announced the discovery of Krebiozen early last month. In addition a discussion of the clinical evidence rela tive to t h e n e w cancer drug, h e made several comments on the availability of Krebiozen. It is not n o w being produced anywhere, and all of the d r u g presently available has been committed to research projects, h e said. According to Ivy, if present plans materialize, the drug will b e in production in the United States within 1950
six or seven months. T h e drug was orig inally produced from horse serum in Argentina by Stevan Durovic. Dr. Ivy emphasized that it i> too earls to saythat Krebiozen is a cure for caruer, and he predicted that proper evaluation would take another four or five years. Dr. Ivy's talk to t h e association was "off the record," but in a preliminary conference, he told C&EN that he wished
to e m p h a s i / c that there is no Krebio/.en available for general distribution. In dis cussing the method of manufacture, he said that it is an expensive procedure. T h e serum from some horses is not suit able, and the horse used must he sacri ficed. T h e details of preparation arc a closely guarded secret and D r . Ivy ad mitted that even he did not know exactly how the product is m a d e .
Saboteurs M o r e Ï 3 a n g e r o u s To Plants Than A i r R a i d s , Says Panel C & E N REPORTS: C h a m b e r of C o m m e r c e c>f t h e United States, Annual M e e t i n g
W A S H I N G T O N . — E v e n more dangerous to the security of American industry than enemy aerial bombs are the two-legged bombs who are ready, willing, and able to sabotage vital installations. This opin ion, expressed by Frank V. Martinek, as sistant vice president, Standard Oil Co. ( I n d i a n a ) , typified those of several mem bers of the panel on sabotage and plant protection. T h e sabotage discussion was one of the outstanding highlights of the thirty-ninth annual meeting of the C h a m ber of Commerce of t h e United States held here April 30 through May 2. On the same panel was Sen. Richard M. Nixon (R., Calif.). Sen. Nixon stated that the 43,000 active communists in the U. S. present a d a n g e r to the security of the nation far out of proportion to their actual numbers. As a n example he said, " T h e Hiss, Remington, and atomic es pionage cases are striking examples of how effective a small dedicated group of traitors can be in injuring the security of their country." More specifically, he said, "The Russians got t h e atom b o m b pron
a h h two and possibly five years l x t u i r they would have by their own devices be cause of the assistance they received from traitors in the United States." Alex C. Davidson, industrial relations supervisor, American Steel and Wire ('.(>.. Cleveland, and former FBI agent, stated that there is no single over-all method of plant protection against saboteurs. How ever, with cooperation from t o p manage ment level, an effective protection plan can be devised which includes plant guard forces and screening of applicants. Another ex-FBI agent, Mr. Martinek. said that basic responsibility for plant pro tection lies with management. To protect their plants, management must first realize that these facilities are in clanger, and then organize a defense unit under the guidance of a top level executive com mittee. Some plan should be worked out for all plants, both large and small. Maj. Gen. Francis H. Griswold, Muni tions Board, stated that, except for pro tecting a limited n u m b e r of vital defense plants and classified information issued to
Frank V. Martinek, assistant vice president of Indiana Standard, lends a h a n d as Alex C. Davidson, supervisor of labor relations for American Steel & Wire, explodes a model factory to illustrate his talk on industrial sabotage
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MACBETH-Ansco Color
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Direct Reading Precision Photometer for Industrial and Research Use
Stern-jawed, Sen. Nixon ( R., Calif. ) warns
