"A new undercurrent of enthusiasm and even optimism" is indicated in the control of concer, according to the 27th annual report to the Harvard Cancer Commission by the chairman of the administrative committee, C. Sidney Burwell.

Dr. Channing C. Simmons, who is surgeon-in-chief of the Collis P. Huntington Memorial Hospital, reported to the commission on the work of numerous investigating activities at the hospital and at the Boston City Hospital. Eight doctors are working on cancer research at the present time, and are continually gathering new knowledge on the subject.

Tumors Studied

Dr. Simmons' study of a series of consecutive cases of bone sarcoma is showing that the prognosis of this group of tumors is not as bad as most people seem to believe. Dr. Grantly W. Taylor has been studying on the results obtained in a series of cases of cancer of the breast in which an artificial menopause was induced as a therapeutic measure.

At the Boston City Hospital, Dr. Charles C. Lund has been investigating the relation of vitamins to the healing of surgical wounds, which may have some bearing on the cancer problem. Dr. Fletcher Colby and Dr. Richard Dresser are continuing their observations on the treatment of cancer of the bladder by the million volt x-ray machine.

Combine X-Ray and Radium

Dr. George A. Leland, who is in charge of the gynecological clinic, is studying the results of the combined treatment by radium and X-ray of cancer of the cervix. The final results of their work will not be made known for several years, but already there are indications that the work can be better done than with radium alone.

Dr. Ira T. Nathanson, acting as assisting surgeon, has been working with Dr. Joe V. Meigs in the endocrine clinic. They have carried out laboratory studies with a group of patients, studying ovaries and hormones.

Dr. Claude E. Welch and Dr. Nathanson are trying to find what period of time must elapse before carcinoma of various sites can be considered cured. This is based on comparison of the life expectancy curve for cancer with the normal life expectancy curve for a type.