Notable Experiments

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While most of Chester M. Southam’s main research focused on cancer - through both trial on animals and experimentation on humans - he also observed dose-responses and viruses.

The Effect of Russian Encephalitis and Viruses on Mouse Leukemia

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In 1953, Southam published a paper titled “The Effect of Russian Encephalitis and Viruses on Mouse Leukemia,” describing whether or not a selected group of viruses could combat leukemia in mice.[1] Each experimental group of 30-40 mice were given 100,000 to 1,000,000 leukemia cells taken from the tail of a mice infected with AK4 leukemia.[1] The mice were either injected intraperitoneally or intracerebrally.[1] Out of fifteen viruses, the Russian spring-summer Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, and Ilheus Virus were able to provoke an immune response in the mice, which was measured using the amount of leukocytes in the blood of the mice.[1] The other viruses either did not have an effect, or had a mild and questionable effect.[1]

Southam also tested the West Nile Virus as a way to kill cancer on humans in the 1950’s.[2] The West Nile Virus was injected into over 100 cancer patients.[2] In Africa, the symptoms included a mild fever; however, upon injection into the cancer patients, their health worsened.<ref name

  1. ^ a b c d e Southam, Chester M.; Epstein, Judith D. (1 August 1953). "The Effect of Russian Encephalitis and Other Viruses on Mouse Leukemia". American Association of Cancer Research. 13 (8): 581–586. ISSN 0008-5472. PMID 13082491. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b Sepkowitz, Kent (25 August 2009). "A Virus's Debut in a Doctor's Syringe". The New York Times. New York Times Company. Retrieved 13 November 2016.