Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-27
WORKING A REDUCTION
IN CANCER DEATH RATE
=,
One of Subjects Discussed Before
American Public Health
Association.

BY the Associated Press.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, October 27.-Pub-
lie diagnostic laboratories operated by
state and city boards of health and
state universities are now contributing
effectively toward the reduction Of the
cancer death rate, according to Curtis
E. Lakeman. executive secretary of
the American Society for the Control
of Cancer.
Discussing this topic at today's meet
ing OF the section of public health ad
ministration of the American Public
Health Association, Mr.. Lakeman
pointed out that the best medical
authorities agree that cancer. like
tuberculosis, must be treated at the
very beginning to insure the greatest
hope of cure, and it is believed that
the provision of free public facilities
for the examination of specimens of
suspected cancerous tissue results in
the earlier recognition and more COM
petent treatment of many cases where
ever such laboratory service is pro-
vided by the state or city
Calling attention to the fact that the
New York State Institute for the study
OF malignant disease at Buffalo some
time ago offered to make free exam
nations of specimens sent in by any
duly registered physician of New York
state, Mr.. Lakeman said that the
laboratory is now regularly examining
ten or fifteen specimens a day. and
giving medical practitioners highly
appreciated assistance and advice re-
garding the proper treatment of their
patients. The speaker continued:
Termed Race Preservation.
'Judicious birth control is not race
suicide, but race preservation said
DR.. s. Adolphus Knopf, professor of
f,edicine at the New York Post Gradu-
IL, Medical School and Hospital. Wig
1rously urging repeal of federal and
state laws prohibiting circulation of
Information as to birth control, DR..
Knopf pleaded for the esta blishment
of free clinics directed by regular ply
sicians of high repute, paid by city or
state, who would be competent to give
Information as to birth limitations in
cases where they deemed such instruc-
tion advisable.
At the close of his paper DR.. Knopf
gave the answers to number of let
tiers of inquiry sent to leading clergy
men, jurors, sociologists and political
economists, and their oponions were, he
said. almost unanimous with those ex-
pressed by him.
DR.. Knopf pointed out that in the
majority of cases the larger the family
the more congested will be the quar-
tiers they live in and the more insani-
tary the environment.
Perils of Childbirth.
The deaths of $4,000 women in this
country in 1913 from conditions caused
by childbirth was the chief argument
given by DR.. Grace L. Meigs. chief of
the division of hygiene of the federal
chtldren's bureau, in urging renewed
efforts to convince women and their
husbands Of the need of skilled service
for maternity. Approximately 1000 of
the total loss of life during childbirth
was due to childbed fever, she de-
clared.
TN 1913 the death rate per 100000
population from all conditions caused
by childbirth was but little lower than
that from typhoid fever" said DR..
Neigs, land this rate would be almost
quadrupled il only the group of the
population which can be affected, WON
on of childbearing age. are considered
In 1913 childbirth caused more deaths
smong women fifteen to fortyfour
years old than any other disease ex-
cept tuberculosis. Only two of a group
Of fifteen important foreign countries
show higher rates from this cause
than the registration area of the United
States"