New Britain herald., 1929-11-14
HOSPITAL EXPENSE
 BURDEN ID PUBLIC
Mounting Costs Bring SuSges-
 ton Of Government Aid

New Orleans, Nov. 14.-Amertcan hospitals must get substantial gov ernment help if proper medical treatment is 10 be brought within the reach of the great majority of tho American people.
 This is the conclusion Of nr. C. Jeff Miller, prcsident-e of the greatest surgical body in the world. the American College Of Surgeons.
 In an interview. Dr. Miller admit led that modern hospital treatment means financial shipwrocll for the average American-Whose income, according to government figures, is we'll below S200O a year. X siege ot illness in the family. he said often puts such a man under load O. debt that it takes years to lift.
 Aid Held Necessary
 The only solution that I can see is governmental aid for the hospi- tals," he declared.
 Whether the appropriations come from federal, state or city gov ernments. or from all of them is detail that the people themselves must work out. Certainly the pro- fossional stan lards of the hospitals cannot be lowered. Nor can the hospital authorities and doctors be blamed.
 The advance Of modern medical science has necessarily added enor- mously 0 the cost Of hospital treat ncnt. For instance; patients now know that their condition can be determined far more accurately than ever before by blood test or N-raN studies. These things cost money
 Says Maximum Reached
 Hospital experts have brought the cost of hospital service as low as possible, considering the stand ards that must he maintained. When you consider that a good ho- 'el room costs you from S5 10 Sl5 a day. and then consider that q hos pHal with its necessary adjuncts ot nursing department, dressing de- partmcnt, N-raE department. patho- logical laboratories. diet kitchens and so on. gives you a room for around Slo day you can see that its costs arc not cXorbtant
 Yet Sl0 day for a hospital room means financial shipNrock for many q man. The only solution we ran see in the American College of Surgeons is governmental aid.'
 
 Turning to a discussion Of cancer. Ipr. Miller emphasized that cancer in it's carly stages can be handled hut that there IS TO curc-all known 10 medical science.
 We want the public 10 know def lnItelN that cancer can he cured in is carly stages" he said. What VIC are irving to spread among th" American people is the knowledge nat there are certain accepted causes of cancer that 'hcy must recognize and have treated.
 "Chronic irritations are a cause. So are growing moles. irritatod warts, ulcers of the stomach and so on. Cancer can and docs develop out of these. Anyone with such condition should consult a doctor al oncc.'
 Consult Doctor Yearly
 How often should man consult a doctor for a general overhaul ire?" he was asked.
 Generally speaking, when one is t0 or older one should go to q doc tor for 8 thorough examination at least once a year." hc replied. Nor u,allN. for one younger than 40, an examination once every one or two years is enough. But of course where there arc conditions such as bad teeth, unusual blood pressure or any other departure from the normal, one should have more ire qucnt examinations.
 Many a man is alive today be- cause his doctor found something wrong with him and made him change his habits"
 pr, Miller took occasion 10 pune ture an ancient jest-the charge that the doctor is always trying 10 find an excuse to perform an opera ton.
 The surgeons themselves are working the hardest 10 diminish he number Of operations" he said We operate when. 10 the best of our knowledge. an opera ion is un- aVoidablo. But the progress or sur gerry in the pas 20 years seems little short Of miraculous. Operations are performed today with the as- Surance that the danger 10 the pa llont is Of the slightest, where In i Years ago the death rate was l. 10 . 5 per cent.'
 Discusses Prohibition
 The interviewer mentioned proh- | hllion pr. Miller remarked that he i. was somewhat averse to discussing the subject, as 'it has got to a point i in America where discussing prohi- | bition is almost like discussing rel- l gion." He suggested that prohibition | could not be successfully enforced | until great campaign of education, i costing perhaps as much as is now spent on prohibition enforcement. is !. held
 "A vast campaign Of education . along the line of temperance is the necessary prelude 10 any possibility