Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-28
Board of Trade Devotes Por.
ton Of Meeting to Physical
Ailments Discussions.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
Amendments to Loan Law and Reg
ulated Jitney Bus Service
Are Favored.

Following an annual custom OF DE-
voting a portion of one meeting each
year to q program arranged by the
public health committee, the Board of
Trade at a meeting at the New Will
lard Hotel last night held what Presi-
don't E.. C. Brandenburg termed a
stop. look and listen" session on
health. Following a few Introductory
remarks by DR.. D. Percy Hiclsling. chair
man of the public health committee,
Elmer E. Rittenhouse Of the Life Ex-
tension Institute of New York spoke
on What Is Happening to the Ameri-
can Heart, Arteries and Kidneys"
Nj. Rittenhouse also outlined the
purposes of the institute and told of
the work it is accomplishing. In addi-
ton to waging campaign against cpl
denies the institute now is beginning
to devote its activities to combating
chronic organic diseases which are re-
sponsibie for a high death rate in the
country
By means of lantern slides the speak
er illustrated statistics dealing with
the mortality rate due to certain
classes Of diseases in this and other
countries.
arterio- sclerosis, commonly known as
which is causing more and more
deaths each year. Overuse of stimu-
lants and the lack of the necessary
amount of rest are its chief causes,
he declared. Excessive use OF alco-
holic beverages is responsible to a
large degree for the disease, the
physician contended.
Talks on Cancer.
The Hopefulness Of the Cancer Prob
lem" was the subject of an illustrated
talk by DR.. H. H. HaZen, who declared
the medical profession is divided on the
question of radium as cure for can
Ger 1t is not a positive cure. he said
X-ray treatment is about as effective
as radium in the treatment Of the dis
ease. DR.. Hazen contended Cures are
effected in the majority of instances by
surgical means if the disease is treated
when 1t is in its first stages. he said.
BY means of lantern slides the speak
er illustrated certain seemingly trivial
ailments which often develdip into can
GER.
DR.. William c. Woodward, District
health officer. said that during 1914
there were 344 deaths from cancer in
this city 200 Of women and 1875 of men
since 1900 deaths from cancer in the
District have increased from 81 in
every 1000 persons to 81 in every 1000
in 1914.
Committee Recommendations.
Prior to the talks on arterio-sclerosis
and cancer, the board adopted the annual
report of the committee on public health.
which embodies the following recon-
mendations:
That additional convenience stations be
provided and placed underground, unless
so located as to be unob1ectionable. and
that all public convenience stations be
kept open until midnight
That individual cups be provided at all
public drinking fountains and individual
towels at all public lavatories.
That public baths be erected in different
portions Of tho city, and SO heated as to
be kept open during the winter.
That additional inspectors and increased
laboratory facilities be provided for the
health department
That the health department issue a
weekly bulletin for distribution to ply
| sicians and others interested in tho health
Of the city.
That the standard of milk be fixed by
law, and that the archaeological count
and temperature requirements as previous
ly approved by the Board Of Trade be en-
forced.
That legislation be enacted:
ta) Providing for voluntary commit
ment to the Government Hospital for the
| Insane.
(b) For an Institution for idiot. i'm
beetle and feebleminded children in the
District
(c) For a medical psychologist for