The Savage Cell: A Report on Cancer and Cancer Research (review)

The Savage Cell: AReport on Cancer and CancerResearch. By Pat McGrady. New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1964. Pp. xH-432. $8.50. Perhaps die fiendish audior of the doctrine "publish or perish" had in mind die dioughts of Louis XV—après nous le déluge. Anyway it happened. As a result, whole generations of serious students attempting to keep abreast of their restricted fields are developing chronic eye strain widi secondary conjunctivitis in trying to cope widi the flood. There are two reasons for diis. First, none of us wants to perish, and in order to survive we often overshoot. Secondly, the publishing business pays so dut literally anyone can get anything published including heresy and drivel. The competition now is for die reader, rather dun to obtain a publisher. And what is the remedy? It is die penetrating review pointing to new areas ofthought and action together widi die small conferences ofworkers. When die eye is saturated die ear can be employed. Pat McGrady has compiled a splendid account ofdie state of cancer research at die present time, and his unique position and native talents have placed him in a point of advantage to do dûs. He is a member ofdie new profession ofscience writers—indeed, one ofdie founders and architects ofthe new craft. One is continually amazed by die journalists who rapidly absorb and digest very complex new scientific data and present them to die public as an accurate account ofwhat die scientist has said and in an interesting way. From an extensive experience widi science writers, I have never been misquoted —dut which was written had been said. Science writer is a necessary link in die scientist-lay public communication chain. Pat McGrady is science editor ofdie American Cancer Society, and in this capacity he literally has made the rounds ofhundreds oflaboratories ofcancer research. Too, he organizes and presides over die annual McGrady Seminars in which die newest and some ofdie most interesting work in cancer research is presented to a large group ofscience writers. Pat McGrady is a devoted man who has given unsparingly ofhis time and effort to advance die solution ofdie cancer problem through die dissemination ofinformation. Cancer is largely a preventable disease, but it is not being prevented. Cancer is largely a curable disease, but fewer dun one-halfdie curable cases are being cured. Most ofdie laboratory workers have only a vague notion ofcancer in man. TAe Savage Cell is highly readable; it is a broad, painstaking survey ofdie chiefareas of cancer research including the nature of the cancer cell, die causes of cancer, its prevention , its cure. The book is unique in its wide scope. It deals widi clinical and experimental cancer. Here one finds a lucid and balanced discussion of radiation and fallout, hormones, viruses, chemical carcinogens, and so many odier central problems in die cancer area. Anyone wishing to read an accurate, comprehensive, interesting account ofcancer easily and painlessly can do so by obtaining The Savage Cell. Charles Huggins Ben May Laboratoryfor Cancer Research University ofChicago 275 ...