Insulin, Diabetes, and Rewards for Discoveries

Abstract

A NUMBER of problems, some of great scientific interest, others of practical importance in various ways, have been brought to notice by the somewhat sensational statements in the daily press relating to the Canadian treatment of diabetes by a preparation extracted from the pancreas and known as “insulin” (see NATURE, November 25, p. 713; December 9, p. 774). In order to understand the state of affairs, it is necessary to review briefly our present knowledge of the physiological processes concerned with the utilisation of carbohydrate food. This will also serve to direct attention to gaps which need filling up, and the opportunities afforded by a trustworthy preparation of the hormone of the pancreatic “islets.” If such a preparation shows itself to be of value in the treatment of diabetes in man, it is clear that difficulties of several kinds arise in the ensuring of an adequate commercial supply of an active product. We shall see further that the question of due rewards for discoveries which involve the cure of disease arises in the present case in an acute form.