Evening star., 1931-11-29

ouSly mentioned Diseases of the heart for
instance, took 1,374 people per million of pop-
ulation in 1900, as compared with 1864 in 1929
One OF the great health problems now is
cancer. Where that disease or group of dis
eases caused approximately $40 deaths per mil
lion OF population in 1900, it caused $50 in 1929
NOW 1t Is possible for some persons to look
at such figures as those with utter despair and
to proclaim loudly the failure of medical
science, entirely forgetting the many years of
life that have been added to the human span
bringing constantly larger percentage of our
people to the age of susceptibility to cancer
heart disease and the remainder of the groun
associated with the wearing out" of the human
machine
On the other hand, it is proper to look back
over century or so. and, noting the diseases
that have been practically vanquiShed in many
nations to conclude that shall better con-
troll and limit, perhaps, even eliminate some
of the great present-day causes of suffering
and death. In the past one sees the scourges
OF great epidemics of smallpox and bubonic
plague, yellow fever, cholera, typhus, scarlet
fever dphtEeria and other diseases that now
are greatly limited. In the future one Sees
with knowledge of the study and research now
going on through the civilized world similar
limitation of the ailments that afnict man
kind today.
There Is an army Of scientists throughout
the world continually employed in safeguard
ing human life searching for causes and SEEK
ing means of prevention and cure. An i'm
Health Service of the United States Govern
ment book might be written about what
it has done and constantly is doing to make
life longer and more free from pain and suf-
fering.
Consider, for example, the effect of a single
epidemic of new" nature. In 1918 influenza
and pneumonia took more than 500, 900 lives
in the United States and millions throughout
the world. Yet it is only one of many epi-
demic diseases that might ravage the popula-
fiOn Of the Tinted Init
patrol" work of the Public Health Service on
guard at every port of entry for immigrants
and ships from other lands.
Consider what lack of protection of our peo-
pie against cholera might mean. In British
India, in $780, there were approximately $685.
900 cases of cholera and PIT 900 deaths from
the disease. The effect of admission of cholera
carriers" to the United States may be imag-
ned. And so the officers of the Public Health
Service go on every vessel that enters any port
of the United States. and through medical in
spection and quarantine safeguard people
against those who may be carrying an infec-
tion from abroad.
Then there is plague to be guarded against
more than 900 in the first three
months of this year in India with a total Of
IS 900 deaths.
There is typhus (not typhoid) fever, trans
mitted by body lice from one person to an
other, that might be brought over on ship
or on dozen ships. Just after the World
War, when typhus widespread in Europe,
1t was estimated that 100000 persons died
from the disease in five years. Our own Public
Health Service officers, stationed abroad super
vised the installation of equipment on trans
atlantic vessels bound for the United States
that insured "clean" crew and passenger per-
sonnel upon arrival in America. The result
was a prevention of any real typhus epidemic
in this country.
A MOTHER disease barred from our shores
by Public Health Service inspection and
activities is yellow fever It is transmitted by
a mosquito, and is a disease that might in
this country. so far as-"favorable" tempera-
ture conditions are concerned, exist from the
northern boundary of Virginia to the southern
boundary Of Texas. and especially in seaports.
1t existed for a long time in the West Indies,
close and dangerous menace to the United
States. During the early life of this nation,
epidemics of yellow fever occurred from New
Hampshire to Texas and as far West as st.
Louis. The death rate was terrific.
American doctors discovered the cause and
the means of prevention. The result is that
for period Of 26 years we have enjoyed COM
plete freedom from yellow fever in epidemic
form
Each part of the country has its own public
health problems; yet the Public Health Service
must and does deal with all of them that
threaten to become real public menaces.
IN our several laboratories we are expert
] menting, among other vitality important
studies with the use of very high frequency
electric current 100000 to 10O,O00,0O0
cycles) in the control of cancerous growthS.
We use mice and rats in these experiments.
We have found that by the application of high
frequency currents it is possible to bring about
the absorption of these tumors and the even-
tual recovery of the animal. But we make no
claim to having discovered cure for human
cancer. We are working, investigating,
we are studying, we adding to the store