Evening star., 1924-04-25
THE NATIONS
HEALTH
BY ELIOT WADSWORTH,
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury
In Two Pnrts-Part II.

w dSnlHBIOn the nySlenlC laDordloTy,
where are made scientific researches
and Investigations Of the diseases of
man with a view to preventive meas
ures. 1t is today recognized as one of
the foremost institutions of its kind
in the world. Investigations in child
hygiene, industrial hygiene, stream
pollution, malaria, pellagra, typhoid,
yellow fever, leprosy, food poisoning
and nutritional diseases are carried
on continuously. Germs, everywhere
feared and avoided, here meet with a
cordial reception. Special food is
provided for them, and they are Of
fered tender care by scientists in
their attempts to develop antitoxins.
or to add to the sum of knowledge
in the treatment of disease.
Medical discoveries are rarely made
by accident The scientist sets out
on definite quest. Whether his
search be for a cure for cancer or
new remedy for a minor ailment, ne
establishes a goal to attain Which ne
brings into play every resource a
hand-and many that are not at
hand. First, he finds out what other
investigators of his subject have
done. He studies scientific literature.
reports professional papers, trans
actions of scientific meetings He
visits institutions where similar work
is in progress. Then, having assem-
bled his data, he steps from the
known to the unknown. Every new
phenomenon, unknown chemical re-
action or unfamiliar process of cell
lular life receives his closest atten-
tion. He takes nothing for granted.
Frequently thousands of test-tube
cultures and microscopical examlna-
tions are necessary to clear up
single step in his work. By dogged
persistence and stubborn determina-
tion is success attained.
Investigators Face Perils.
Scientific Investigations not infre-
quently are attended by danger to
the investigators-but tie WORK goes
on. Illustrative Of thic is the re-
search made last year which resulted
in the discovery of tularemia-one of
the few diseases Of man discovered in
the last quarter of a century. Res'-
dents of the western mountain states
for years have been It's victims. me
disease acts much like typhoid or
blood poisoning, causing an illness
which may last from six weeks TO
four months. but which seldom re-
suits in death For want of a better
ley fever" "deerfiy fever or "ra bbit
fever" An expert from the public
health service was sent TO Titan to
study this disease, and almost i'm
mediately contracted it. He was sue
ceeded by another physician. who dis
covered that the disease was trans
mitted from the jackrabbit to human
beings by a bloodsucking fly, the
"Chrysops discalis." The doctor re-
turned to Washington, bringing with
~ h. n ~
tinuing his Investigations, he became
ill., and for several months was
hospital patient. Four other experts.
delegated to continue the expert
ments, ended in the hospital. Dis
covery in a Washington market Of a
salesman who recently had recovered
from the disease furnished evidence
that tularemia is widely distributed.
The service is now engaged in finding
an an+iserum that viii be safe AMI
potent.
An extremely important function
of the laboratory is the standardiZa-
tion and supervision Of biologic prod
uctT. All vaccines. serurns, anti
toxins and analogous products must
meet test of potency and purity set
by the government or they cannot
be sold in interstate commerce. Manu-
facturers OF such products are re-
quired to obtain a federal license.
Samples are sent to the hygienic
laboratory. where they are analyzed
and tried on laboratory animals. If
the samples do not meet the rigid
requirements of the laboratory, the
entire lot is destroyed. The service
has standardized products for use
against diphtheria, lockjaw. dysen-
terry. meningitis, pneumonia and ty-
phoid.
Better Health In FIXTURE.
The amazing developments of the
past century in medicine and SANTA
tion have continually pointed out new
ways by which the health of the ma
tion may be protected and improved.
Especially notable is the progress
made in the last few years. The
hygienic laboratory is now estab-
fishing a standard for insulin, prod
uct made from the pancreas of an
animal, which is used in the treat
ment of diabetes with wonderful sue
cess.
Methods OF preventing diphtheria
by immuniZation are of far-reaching
Importance. Few diseases have such
high mortality records as diphtheria.
Since the discovery that not only can
diphtheria be treated successfully,
but that it can be prevented, the death
rate from this disease has been great
ly lowered.
Somewhere in the United States are
between 500 and 1900 lepers-many
of them at large. In Hawaii and the
Philippines the disease is much more
prevalent. The government, in con-
tinuing its study of this disease. is
caring for its victims and protecting
the public against contact with the
sufferers. In 1921 there was estab-
lished in Louisiana, under the direc-
tion of the public health service. a
national home for lepers. On appli-
cation from a proper state authority,
the service may accept as a patient a
leper found in any state, except an
alien subject to deportation from the
country.
1t has been found that leprosv is in
measure amenable to - 'Ant.
Several years ago a way o ing
chaulmoogra was found y! -Tn-
Hawaiian leper colony. Since that
time nearly one-third of the patients
at the Hawaiian stations have been
released as being no longer menace
of the paroled cases have relapsed.
However, it is too early to draw con-
illusions with regard to how success
full this treatment will be.
The service recently begun an in
tensive study of drug addictions. Its
prevalence of addiction and the
amount of narcotic drugs consumed
in this country have been based on
erroneous CALCULATIONS Inc piooieiL'
however, is sufficiently serious to
warrant the service in determined and
continued efforts toward its solution.
Information Is Broadcast.
Important medical discoveries
would avail little could not the
knowledge be disseminated and ap-
piled. Through bulletins published
by the service, state and local health
authorities, the scientific public and
persons interested in public health
are kept advised weekly of it's find
ings. The public is advised of what
to do in case of accidents, the impor-
fance of good teeth and how to avoid