Tuesday, November 27, 1923NO. 44

UNIVERSITY HONOURS PROFESSORS BANTING AND MACLEOD AS WINNERS OF THE NOBEL PRIZE AWARD FOR MEDICINE IN BOARD OF GOVERNORS' BANQUET HELD AT HART HOUSE

Medical Men From all the Continent Come to Pay Homage to Famous Discoverers of Insulin

CHARLES BEST SHARES IN PRAISE EARNED IN LONG, HARD RESEARCH

Sir Robert Falconer Proposes Toast to Which Professors Banting and Macleod Modestly Respond

Medical men from all over the continent gathered last night in the Great Hall of Hart House to do honour to Prof. F. G. Banting and Prof. J. J. R. Macleod, of the University of Toronto. The occasion was a banquet given by the Board of Governors of the University in recognition of the recent award to these two scientists of the Nobel Prize for Medicine. There were representatives from sister universities, from Queen's, Western, McGill, and Montreal; from universities across the line, Johns Hopkins and Chicago; and from abroad from even far off Delhi. Rarely before have so many distinguished men gathered at once in the Great Hall of Hart House. All brought a message of recognition and homage from their perspective seats of learning. All paid tribute to the magnificent accomplishment of these two Toronto scientists.

Canon Cody, Chairman of the Board of Governors, was Master of Ceremonies. He extended a welcome to the many distinguished visitors who graced a red letter day in the University of Toronto's history by their presence. He read telegrams of congratulation from Dr. Pritchard of the Carnegie Foundation, Dr. McVicar of the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Welch, Dr. Cullen, and Dr. Futcher, all of Johns Hopkins University. He then went on to extend a welcome to the two guests of honour, Dr. Banting, and Prof. Macleod. For the first time in history, the Nobel Prize had been awarded to Canadians. "It is in no unworthy scientific succession that these men take their place." The scientist was a citizen of the world. It was a debt incomparably great, that was owing to these quiet students, for their great contribution to the welfare of the world. Dr. Banting had won the undying gratitude of mankind. He had given untold rivers of blessing to the world which would grow, as time went on.

With his name, Canon Cody linked that of his fidus achates, Charles Best. Dr. Banting had always been too big to refuse generous recognition of his collaborators, in the search for truth. To such a man had fallen the latest place in the galaxy of great medical men, which included Pasteur, Lister, Wright, and others.

The speaker paid a glowing tribute to the fellow-sharer of the award, Dr. Macleod, head of the Department of Physiology, at this University, and one of the world's greatest physiologists. "By his guidance," said Canon Cody, "he has in the past, and will, in the future, enable many students to build up wonderful superstructures in medicine for the good of mankind." He related how, after the brilliant and creative idea of insulin had come to Banting, there had arisen numerous inevitable physiological problems and Prof. Macleod with his mature judgment had given his aid, paving the way to the final success. "They are two High Priests of science. They seek not material reward, but are satisfied if they uplift scientific knowledge.

"The work of these two has focused world-wide attention on the University of Toronto. It means a new era of sympathetic support of scientific research by both state and individual. It ought to act as a stimulus to other Canadians who have the creative genius. What one Canadian has done, other Canadians are challenged to do. Co-operation of students is essential to progress. I trust that there will be many more like these, so that this great University will become even more renowned by their contributions to the world of Science, and the healing of the suffering world. This can only be done by co-operation.

"We have obtained by inheritance and by achievement one of the greatest Universities of the world, daunted by nothing , big with hope, wide in achievement, adorn it!" And with this stirring message, Canon Cody concluded his address.

Sir Edmund Walker spoke with the knowledge gained from 32 year's connection with the University of Toronto. As a layman he had been closely connected with the aspects that appeal to the ordinary man. He recalled the day when the outsider had very little use for the University, and he told of the great difficulties encountered in trying to convince people of the great good done by it. The first interest shown had come with the development of Prof. Fitzgerald's anti-toxins. The University had sold these at a very small profit for the general good. The profit realized had been the means of creating a fund for furthering scientific research in the University. In the first stages of the development of insulin this fund had furnished great assistance, and had been the means of furthering greatly the work of the discoverers.

The U. of T. had decided that the insulin should be patented, and that the right to make it should be secured to the governments only, thus ensuring a supply of pure insulin at a reasonable price. Here the question of etiquette had entered. The aim of the University had been to ensure that the people would get the most good out of insulin, and that the profits resulting from its sale should form a fund for furthering other scientific research which would bring more benefits to suffering humanity.

The result of this great discovery, said Sir Edmund, was that people now understood that the University was one of the greatest of human institutions and had their good at heart.

He felt greatly honoured that on this, one of the greatest days in the history of the University, of the Dominion, and of the world itself, he had been able to confer his first degrees in his capacity as Chancellor, on Dr. Banting and Dr. Macleod.

The co-workers were not to be neglected. At one table were sitting twenty-six persons who had collaborated in some way, and had given their assistance in the final success. The discovery was the culmination of the study of medicine and the gradual building up of a medical school in the University of Toronto, which had enabled Dr. Banting to find the necessary entourage for his great discovery.

Sir Robert Falconer, the President of the University, was then called upon to propose the toast to Dr. Banting and Dr. Macleod. He asserted that the romance of the modern University lay in its research work. All the work of study was bent towards that common goal. The work needed some learned, cautious head to direct the student's path wisely towards the hidden treas-

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ure. It would be impossible to have anything new but for the work of the old heads. Briefly he traced the history of the discovery of insulin.

Dr. Banting, he declared, was an idealist. He had thrown up what promised to be a very brilliant career as a surgeon and had come to Toronto where he could co-operate with Dr. Macleod, the greatest researcher in the field of diabetes. Dr. Best had co-operated and laboured unceasingly. The Connaught Laboratories, the Toronto General Hospital, all had been proud to contribute their share. On the final discovery, Drs. Banting, Best and Collip, handed over their patents very generously to the Governors of the University of Toronto to standardize. Here co-operation was given by legal men, especially Mr. Richards. Professor Macleod helped and approved in every way. The one desire of the discoverers and the trustees was that all sufferers should have it for their help. Toronto had come to be regarded as a fountain of healing and blessings on the names of the discoverers were heard from sufferers the world over. The crowning award had been the Nobel Prize. Dr. Macleod had long been world famous as a physiologist and an investigator of diabetes. The work of Dr. Collip and Mr. Best had played a big part and it had been of great credit to Dr. Banting and Dr. Macleod, that they admitted this in very generous and appreciative terms. The example set by this unselfish idealism would eventually crown the School of Medicine from which it emanated, by virtue of the gratitude of those whom insulin had cured.

And then Sir Robert proposed the toast to Dr. Banting and Dr. Macleod.

It was a modest speech that Dr. Banting made in answer.

"On behalf of all the insulin workers I wish to thank the Board of Governors for their dinner, I wish to thank also those teachers, particularly Professor Macleod, to whom we owe so much. Prof. Macleod's approval has resembled the stamp of the Bank of England."

Dr Banting extended his thanks to Charles Best who had been his associate, from the very start, and also to Prof. Henderson, whom he described as "the truest friend and best guide of all. If you are proud insulin has remained Canadian, it is to him it is responsible." Dr. Banting also paid a tribute to all the others who had helped in the work.

"The greatest of all honour," he said, "is the thanks that come from the lips of the patient who suffers from diabetes." In conclusion he expressed the hope that the discovery of insulin would act as a stimulus for further research.

Dr. Macleod spoke as a representative of the numerous co-workers who had assisted in the discovery.

He told how every advance made in science necessitated a long period of preparation which had to be completed if the advance was to be of any value. The advance process had required 30 years in their consummation. "Dr. Banting and Mr. Best led the attack on the almost impregnable stronghold of the enemy diabetes. It was immediately followed up and advance consolidated." Entanglements had been cleared away by the aid of many, one very important one being Dr. J. B. Collip, of the University of Alberta, who had by painstaking work assisted very materially. Others were Drs. Latchford and Hepburn, and E. C. Noble. Team work had made the newly discovered insulin possible.

Dr. Macleod expressed delight in that the community at large was beginning to take an interest in research work. "Research work," he concluded, "will constitute a better investment for public funds than anything else conceivable in the community."

Attorney General W. F. Nickle followed as the representative of the Provincial Government. He called the banquet a rare occasion in the life of the world, and expressed his gratification that he should be asked to speak.

As head of the Board of Trustees of Queen's University, he asked for co-operation between the two Universities in the great work of scientific development.

"The government is not indifferent to the brains and pluck of these men" he pointed out, and he hoped that the result would be a stimulation of interest amongst Canadians to work, and the establishment of the principle that a man's worth depended not on what he got but on what he gave to the world.

"As a Queen's man, as a member of the legislature, and as a Canadian, I wish to express my pride at being asked to say a few words of appreciation to such men and at such a gathering."

Dr. Barker, an old Toronto graduate, and now of Johns Hopkins, brought a message from Toronto graduates in the U.S.A.

Dr. Kellam, of the Ontario College of Physicians, and Dr. Bazin, of the Canadian Medical Association, presented the congratulations and pride of the medical fraternity of our Dominion to the co-workers in the discovery.