Evening star., 1940-03-31
District En|ists
In Campaign
Against Cancer
Women MobiIizino
To 'Corry Fight
Into the Field

LII line WIN HTeSlQenL ktOOSeVelLS 8
proclamation designating April as
Cancer Control Month";" District
Health Department onicials yester-
day went forward with plans for
active participation In the cam
paign.
DR.. Daniel L. Seckinger, assistant
health officer and co-ordinator of
the community cancer campaign,
said the local campaign is being
sponsored by the women's field
armies of the District in co-opera-
ton with the District Medical So
ciety, the Medico-Chirurgical So
ciety, the District of Columbia Den
tai Society, the Health Department,
United States Public Health Service
and local hospitals and various
community organizations.
The Presidents proclamation
should be a stimulus for the citizens
of the District to join in the ma
tional observance" said DR.. Seckin-
ger. ut aims to help make cancer
vanishing disease The medical
societies have set up organizations
and the women are mobilizing to
carry the campaign into the field.
The slogan is Fight cancer with
knowledge"
Says Toll Is Too Heavy.
Asserting that cancer takes too
heavy toll in the District" Health
Officer George c. Ruhland pointed
out that in 1899, cancer cut the
Districts population by more than
1000 persons and that the Dis
trict has higher death rate from
cancer than the Nation as a whole.
In 1885, the District had 779
e.eaths from cancer; in 1896. 858; in
937, 879: in 1888, 87l. and in 1899,
.0l7. The mortality rate from this
cause in 1888 was 1889 per 100000
population in the District, as COM
pared with HAS per 100000 popula-
ton for the Nation as whole, it
was pointed out.
Health officials explained the un-
favorable mortality rate in the Dis
trict is due, in large measure, to
the fact that the city has a high
percentage of persons in the older
age group. DR.. Rutland added,
however:
This regretful loss of life in our
community need not exist. The
medical profession can discover
many forms of cancer early and
treat them successfully before they
become inoperable. / recommend
periodic medical examinations espe-
cially for persons approaching
middle age
Whitmore Is Appointed. $
DR.. John Hugh Lyons, president
of the District Medical Society, has
appointed DR.. Eugene r. Whitmcre,
professor of parasitology and pa
thology of Georgetown University, as
chairman of the Executive Com
mittee for Cancer Control
DR.. Whitmore said yesterday he
feels the time has come to attack
cancer "in much the same way as we
have attacked other plaques Of hui
manity." He said the April campaign
should arouse the interest Of Dis
trict citizens to the realization that
at least one-half of the deaths from
cancer are preventable.
He said he hoped also that "the
long and evil influence of quacSery
in cancer will be brought to the
attention of the public in order to
spare expense. disillusionment and
death"
Field Army Headquarters.
The Women's Field Army of the
District Medical Society is headed
by Mrs. Lloyd w. Biddle, who has
established headquarters in the Nc
Lachlen Bank Building. The army"
will work in the field to stimulate
interest in the educational oppor-
tunities provided by the speakers
bureaus of the medical society and
solicit memberships to carry on the
campaign. Special cancer clinics
will be set up in various hospitals.
DR.. Dorothy Boulding Ferebee,
chairman of the Executive Commit
tee for Cancer Control of the Medi-
co-Chirurgical Society, has an
nounced that the colored womens
field army" will open its education
and enlistment campaign tomorrow
night at the Phyllis Wheatley Y.
w. c. A. DR.. c. Herbert Marshall
will deliver an address emphasizing
the Importance of teaching people
the early signs of cancer.
This group is taking advantage of
the celebration of National Negro
Health Week, March 81 to April 6,
to present illustrated lectures on
cancer before clubs. parent-teacher
associations and fraternal organiza-
tions.
Booths will be opened in various
stores to receive memberships in the
various field armies, and to distrib-
ute literature and other informa-
ton. Boy Scouts will assist in set
ting IN booths and distributing