1959 Fredericton Encaenia
Alumni Oration
Delivered by: Odell, Arthur D.
Content
"Encaenia Alumni Meeting Told Cure For Cancer Seen Imminent" Daily Gleaner (14 May 1959): Extract. (UA Case 67a, Box 2)
A prediction that a cure for cancer is now imminent highlighted the Alumni Oration by Dr. Arthur D. Odell, '34, at the annual UNB Alumni Encaenia dinner at the Lady Beaverbrook Rink last night.
Dr. Odell told the assembled alumni and alumnae that the current chemotherapy program being co-ordinated by the National Institutes of Health in the United States, which will spend approximately $25,000,000 in the current fiscal year, together with other cancer research programs, makes it safe to predict the imminent advent of a cancer cure.
The orator said that among the many other agents already known to have varying degrees of effectiveness is a group of substances known as the steroid hormones.
Outstanding contributions have been made by research recently toward the synthetic manufacture of these agents, the speaker said.
Brilliant Star
"By far the most brilliant star in the field of raw material available for the manufacture of synthetic steroid hormones has been discovered in a yam which grows wild in the jungles of Mexico, in great profusion.
"This root yields a saponin which is a complex surfactant formerly used by the Indians for stunning fish. From this saponin, by relatively simple chemical conversions, there is obtained a fabulously versatile compound which, by appropriate chemical steps can be converted to any of the steroid hormones, without exception.
"This is an exceptionally fortunate finding, since the demand for hormones, which reached $125,000,000 last year, could never have been met otherwise, and many patients would never have been treated. Conversion of natural raw materials to the desired hormones in tonnage amounts per annum is thus an accomplished fact."
Hormone Therapy
Dr. Odell indicated that hormone therapy may be made easier and easier as researchers come up with more powerful compounds.
"Some research laboratories have been engaged in a highly successful game of what has aptly been described as 'structural roulette.'
"One of their objectives has been to produce more powerful compounds with the added advantage that they will be orally active, and which would not necessarily have to be injected."
The future will undoubtedly produce some even more dramatic findings in the field of steroid hormones, Dr. Odell emphasized. Derivatives may be expected to emerge from the laboratories which will be immensely effective in congestive heart failure, cancer, atherosclerosis, bacteriostasis and control of troublesome fungi, mental disease and many others, he said.
Population Problem
The alumni orator suggested that in the future steroid hormones may be employed to help control the problem of world population.
"Our world today has a population of about 2.5 billion people. A veritable population explosion is occurring at such a rate that one hundred years from now, if left unchecked, this figure will reach 10 billion. People who should know have expressed the belief that our globe will be unable to support such an increase. Without wishing in any way to disregard the ethical problems involved, science has already developed and successfully tested steroid hormones which could be of tremendous help in controlling this problem, particularly in the underprivileged countries."
Dr. Odell suggested that fear of retaliation from undetectable, mobile launching sites at the bottom of the ocean may be the future deterrent to aggression.
Study Warranted
"As a Maritimer it seems curious to me how little attention has been to the oceans of our globe. Since these comprise some 75 per cent of our surface area and have tremendous impact on our climate, food supply, and many other facets of our existence, then a detailed study of all aspects of oceanography is certainly warranted.
"Future trans-oceanic transport of bulk materials will almost certainly be in the climate constant sub-surface zones. It may very well be that the greatest deterrent to aggression will stem from fear of retaliation from undetectable, mobile launching sites.
"At this moment the World Health Organization is considering plans for an International Health and Medical Research Year. Properly carried out, this global attack on human misery could be the most important medical even in the history of mankind," the speaker concluded.
A prediction that a cure for cancer is now imminent highlighted the Alumni Oration by Dr. Arthur D. Odell, '34, at the annual UNB Alumni Encaenia dinner at the Lady Beaverbrook Rink last night.
Dr. Odell told the assembled alumni and alumnae that the current chemotherapy program being co-ordinated by the National Institutes of Health in the United States, which will spend approximately $25,000,000 in the current fiscal year, together with other cancer research programs, makes it safe to predict the imminent advent of a cancer cure.
The orator said that among the many other agents already known to have varying degrees of effectiveness is a group of substances known as the steroid hormones.
Outstanding contributions have been made by research recently toward the synthetic manufacture of these agents, the speaker said.
Brilliant Star
"By far the most brilliant star in the field of raw material available for the manufacture of synthetic steroid hormones has been discovered in a yam which grows wild in the jungles of Mexico, in great profusion.
"This root yields a saponin which is a complex surfactant formerly used by the Indians for stunning fish. From this saponin, by relatively simple chemical conversions, there is obtained a fabulously versatile compound which, by appropriate chemical steps can be converted to any of the steroid hormones, without exception.
"This is an exceptionally fortunate finding, since the demand for hormones, which reached $125,000,000 last year, could never have been met otherwise, and many patients would never have been treated. Conversion of natural raw materials to the desired hormones in tonnage amounts per annum is thus an accomplished fact."
Hormone Therapy
Dr. Odell indicated that hormone therapy may be made easier and easier as researchers come up with more powerful compounds.
"Some research laboratories have been engaged in a highly successful game of what has aptly been described as 'structural roulette.'
"One of their objectives has been to produce more powerful compounds with the added advantage that they will be orally active, and which would not necessarily have to be injected."
The future will undoubtedly produce some even more dramatic findings in the field of steroid hormones, Dr. Odell emphasized. Derivatives may be expected to emerge from the laboratories which will be immensely effective in congestive heart failure, cancer, atherosclerosis, bacteriostasis and control of troublesome fungi, mental disease and many others, he said.
Population Problem
The alumni orator suggested that in the future steroid hormones may be employed to help control the problem of world population.
"Our world today has a population of about 2.5 billion people. A veritable population explosion is occurring at such a rate that one hundred years from now, if left unchecked, this figure will reach 10 billion. People who should know have expressed the belief that our globe will be unable to support such an increase. Without wishing in any way to disregard the ethical problems involved, science has already developed and successfully tested steroid hormones which could be of tremendous help in controlling this problem, particularly in the underprivileged countries."
Dr. Odell suggested that fear of retaliation from undetectable, mobile launching sites at the bottom of the ocean may be the future deterrent to aggression.
Study Warranted
"As a Maritimer it seems curious to me how little attention has been to the oceans of our globe. Since these comprise some 75 per cent of our surface area and have tremendous impact on our climate, food supply, and many other facets of our existence, then a detailed study of all aspects of oceanography is certainly warranted.
"Future trans-oceanic transport of bulk materials will almost certainly be in the climate constant sub-surface zones. It may very well be that the greatest deterrent to aggression will stem from fear of retaliation from undetectable, mobile launching sites.
"At this moment the World Health Organization is considering plans for an International Health and Medical Research Year. Properly carried out, this global attack on human misery could be the most important medical even in the history of mankind," the speaker concluded.
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