Evening star., 1939-06-25
Cancer Institute
Rites Held al
Bethesda
Bone and Dr.. Purrun
Urge Continued FIGHT
Against Disease

Annual congressional appropria-
tons for continuance Of the work
Of the National Cancer Institute
were urged yesterday by Senator
Bone, Democrat, of Washington, as
the cornerstone Of the institutes S
new $750,O00 building near Bethes-
da, Md, was laid.
Senator Bone spoke at the cere-
monies with Surgeon General
Thomas Parran, who described the
three-story red-brick structure as a
symbol Of the faith of the American
people in the United States Public
Health Service, a faith based upon
IAN unbroken line of achievement
stretching back 141 years"
Pointing out that the amount Of
money suggested" for the work of
the institute is only a fraction of
the cost of one of our smallest war
ships, Senator Bone said, 1T is to
be hoped that Congress will be un-
relenting in its efforts to see that
funds are made available every year
to continue this work."
Toll Greater Than War.
"The annual death toll of cancer
Is greater than that of any war in
which we have yet participated" he
continued, "and if there be justifica-
ton for the preparations for war,
there is certainly even greater justi-
fication for the modest expenditures
which we propose to continue the
work Of combating this destroyer Of
human life"
DR.. Parran said that nowhere In
the world could be found in a single
structure the physical equipment
and facilities solely for scientific re-
search in specialized field of medi-
cine that are provided in the insti-
tute's new building.
He paid tribute to the staff of the
Public Health Service and declared
that a victorious war against cancer
is a cooperative venture"
Research Complex Problem.
1T is not likely that any one of
you will conquer single-handedly
this age-old enemy-cancer," he told
staff members who attended the
ceremonies. Scientific knowledge
has increased and has become 50
complex that no one individual can
possibly become skilled in all fields
of investigation. The complexity OF
the medical research may best be ap-
preciated when we realize that the
staff of the National Cancer Insti-
tute will include pathologists. gene
ticists, cytologists, radiologists, bio
chemists. physicists, epidemiologists
statisticians-and, of course, physi-
cians."
Placed in its niche in the wall OF
the building by master mason and
two laborers, the corner stone sealed
a copper vault containing photo
graphs. documents. records and q
letter to the generation of 100 years
hence. Within the vault is a docu-
mentary record of the people and
social pattern of 1899.
The new building erected on q
tract donated by Mrs. Luke I. Will
son. partially realizes the dreams OF
both Senator Bone and DR.. Parran
1t was Senator Bone, who, after con-
sultation with Dr. Parran, intro
duced the bill in 1887 which pro-
vided 81 ,0O0, 900 annually for the Ma
tion's war against cancer. The bill
was co-sponsored and passed by al.
most the entire Senate body.
Started Last November.
Construction of the new building
began last November. and will be
ready for occupancy in September
Working space will be available fol-
80 research experts. Some of the
rooms will be refrigerated. Others
will be constantly sterile like a hos
pital operating room. A sub-base-
ment will house mice and other
animals to be used for experimental
purposes.
/ Unequalled by any single research
center in the world, the new build
ing brings together for the first time
IN history Of the Public Health Sery-
ice all aspects of cancer research
work.
Members of the National Ad-
visory Cancer Council who attended
the ceremonies included Presiden,
James B. Conant of Harvard Uni.
verslty, Arthur H. Compton Of tn.
University Of Chicago, DR.. Mont R
Reid OF the University of Cincinnati
DR.. James B. Murphy of the Rookie.
teller Institute for Medical Re.
search, New York, and DR.. Ludwie
Hektoen, executive director of thu
National Advisory Cancer Council