Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-18
PREVENTION URGED
/ To CUT MORTALITY
Wider Use of Methods Now in
/ Vogue Suggested at
Kb Insurance Dinner.

The extensive application of what IS
already known about the prevention
and cure of diseases is the greatest
need in mortality reduction in the
United States. speakers stressed at
the triennial banquet of the field rep
resentatives of the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co. at the New Willard
Hotel last night.
DIR. Lee Is. Frankel, second vice
president of the company; Senator }.
II. Ramsdell Of Louisiana, Surg. Gen.
Hugh S. Cumming of the United
States Public Health Service, and or.
Harvey w. Wiley, director OF the
United States Bureau of Food, SAM
tation and Health, discussed the need
of a systematic health program
throughout the Nation.
Flags Attitude of Congress.
"Somp day there will be a Congress
that will recognize health as the
greatest asset of the Nation, DR..
Ramsdel asserted and congressman
will some day learn that protec
ton Of buildings and property is not
more essential than the protection of
public health
Or. Ramsdcll lamcntcd the fact that
more money is spent for fire protcc-
ton and other property preservation
y
cure of diseases.
I'VE already know more about pre-
vention and cure of diseases than we
are able to apply" he stated. There
Is no excuse for dyphtheria and yellow
fever tuberculosis can be both pre-
vented and cured: the cause and pre-
vention of pneumonia will soon be
part Of every physicians knowledge,
and n cure for cancer will be found
Il a. .JsNl1 Il
Senator RamSden declared that il
Is fact that members Of Congress
are apparently more interested in
saving property than in saving lives.
Cites Germ Borer Fund.
He called attention to the passage
by the Senate yesterday of the S10,-
600, 200 appropriation for the eXtermi
nation of the corn borer, stating that
Congress does not hesitate one second
to pass fayorahly upon such appro-
priations. He expressed regret that
Congress is not as liberal in acting
faVorabiy on appropriations for health
service.
Senator Ramsdell expressed his
hope that Washington would become
the clearing house of the world in
health matters as we'll as in others.
He also discussed his bill recently in
trodu"cd in the Senate providing for
the establishment of national health
institution similar to the West Point
and Annapolis military academies, for
the training OF public health experts.
Gen. Cumming and DIR. Wiley dis
cussed the health situation in the
nlted States. praising the work that
has been done and predicting greater
success in the future
Rauuuef EndC (oux,,,fs.,,,
Mrs Helen c. LaMalle. superintend-
ent OF me- Sirc for the nome office in |
New York. give demonstration of
bag technique A. r G. F'iske. third
vice president of the company. was
POSTMASTER.
Among the guests of honor were: |
Mai. Gen. John \ Lejeune, com |
mander of the United States Marine |
Corps: DR.. William Mather Lewis, |
president of George Washington Uni |
versity: Chief Justice W. /, Mccoy of |
the District Supreme Court and |
Bishop James f. Freeman of the
Episcopal Church of Washington.
The banquet terminated the con- |
rention of the $50 field agents of the |
company in Maryland, Delaware, |
northern Virginia and the Dis of |
Columbia, which opened yesterday
morning at the New Willard
An institute for visiting nurses of
the company was held yesterday, also,
IN connection with the convention.
Mrs. LaMalle, Miss Monica Moore,
held supervisor: Miss NJ. MCDOWELL, di.
rector of the Wilmington. Del, Visit.
Ing Nurse Association, and Miss Eliza
beth Fox, director of the American
Red Cross Public Health Nursing
Association. spoke at the meeting.
John Dolph. manager of the Wash.
lngton office, had charge of the con
vention.