Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-17
Economist Predicts National
Income of 40 Billion DOL
lars in 20 Years.
MEDICAL CARE COST {
GROUP HEARS TALK
No Report to Be Made Yet
on Medical Expense
Survey.
Predicting an increase of $40 900 o0o.-

Predicting an increase of $40, 0OO. o0O.-
600 In the national income during the
next 20 years, DR.. William T. Foster,
prominent economist, told the Com
mittee on the Costs of Medical Care at
Its concluding session yesterday that
So, 900, 100000 Of this increased income
should be expended for health purposes.
THE country can afford it," he de-
clared.
The committee, which is completing
f1ve-year study of medical costs and
allied problems, has estimated that the
annual bill for medical service already
has reached the staggering total of
81, 000, 900 ,000-as much being spent for
health as spent to ride around in motor
cars.
The committee fnds further" said
DR.. Foster, who is director OF the
Pollak Foundation for Economic Re-
search, that adequate medical care for
all people, even after every possible re-
duction Of wastes. would cost much
more than that sum. Some say $1,000
DOC. 900 more"
DR.. Foster declares that the national
income in 1929 was not far fran $780,
100000 OF this total, the sum ex-
pended for medical care was 313 per
cent.
Aim at S13o, oOO, Oo0, 200.
Nov suppose that in the next 30
years. we use our productive facilities
so effectively that the national income
reaches $3.50, 900, 000, 000?" he said.
This gain we may not attain, but we
/ should not be satisfied with less. In
any event we shall not use our growing
| resources to full advantage unless We
plan to do So
The greatest satisfaction would come,
he said: If comparatively small part
! Of the increased productive capacity is
used to supply material wants and
goods and II comparatively large pro-
| portion Is used for the preservation Of
! health.
Nothing we are likely to buy with
an additional $4,000 900 900 will mean
as much to us as health" he said
While the committee concluded its
Semi-annual session, 1t rendered no
final report on the problem presented
! IN the studies 1t Is now completing.
These reports, it was said. would be
made from time to time until next De-
| cemoer. when the final session is called.
Az yesterdays session, however. at
tention was diverted to some specific
problems of disease and results.
! Four out OF 10 Americans, for In
stance. suffer from digestive diseases.
according to an estimate submitted to
| the committee by its research star.
! This group of maladies, consisting
largely Of indigestion, upset stomach.
stomach trouble and biliousness, Is o
runner-up to respiratory diseases.
$l23.OO0.oo0 for Hired Help.
Another interesting sidelieht was the
contention that illness brings $l23,O
600 worth Of hired girls into American
homes each year, factor which Gov
eminent experts on unemployment
probably have not taken into consid-
Grafton, but one which the committee
contends is considerable item in the
average family cost of medical service.
The amount of this cost of addi-
tional hired help in American house,
holds, the committee holds. ranks fifth
among the OUTLAWS in the annual bill
! for medical service. 1t is exceeded
which is $1,000. 900 900; medicines and
supplies, 500, ,0o0 hospitals. includ-
ing outpatient departments, $3.50, 0OO,.
600, and dentists, S400, 000, 900.
Back to statistics on diseases, the re-
search staff showed that the respiratory
ailments of 1000 average Americans are
made up of 748 cases of colds and bron-
chitis, 204 cases of tonsilitis, sore throat,
quincy and other diseases of the
pharynx and 144 cases of inffuenza and
grippe. Pleurisy. pneumonia, laryngitis
and other respiratory diseases bring the
total number of cases for each 1000
persons to 1153.
In the order of their occurrence the
Is other principal causes of illness
among Americans are: Epidemic, en-
demic and infectious diseases, 92.5 per
1000: teeth and gums, SIS; external
causes, 54: childbirth, 472: womens
disorders 31.9: general diseases (inchId-
ing cancer, rheumatism and diabetes).
2l.4; heart and circulatory system, 20.2:
ear and mastoid process. Is; skin
diseases, 49, kidney, IA; lumbago
and kindred ailments, liz; eyes, S5:
boils and carbuncles, ST.: bones and
joints, 1.8: mems disorders, is.