Evening star., 1943-10-02
Doctors Warned
U.S.. Troops May
Spread Disease
Told Geographical
Isolation of Ills
May Be Broken

OF troops throughout the world, may
break down the geographical iso-
latlon OF diseases, just as it may
break down political isolation DR..
r. E. Dyer. director of the National
Institute of Health. warned today at
one of the closing sessions of the
18th annual scientific assembly of
the District Medical Society at the
Mavf1ower Hotel
DR.. Dyer pointed out that there
was danger, not only that American
troops would contract contagious
diseases of many sorts, but that they
bring them back to this country
when they returned.
Thus far, he said malaria has
proved the most serious medical
problem in the armed forces, causing
IAN enormous number of casualties. y
Greater Menace in South.
He foresaw hazard of spreading
the disease when infected soldiers
and sailors return. AnopheleS mos
Qultoes, he pointed out, may carry
the disease from them to other
people. He saw this, however, as a
greater menace in the South than
in the North.
In past wars. DR. Dyer said. typhus
has been the most devastating mill
tary disease and sometimes, in for
mer centuries, has been the decisive
factor in a campaign. Then, he ex-
planned, soldiers brought the disease
back to their homes and it caused
havoc among civilians. While some
typhus may be spread by returning
American soldiers, he added little
danger OF a real outbreak exists in
this country, because of the high
standards of living that prevail. Nor
did he fear that cholera or bubonic
plague would assume large propor-
tions in this country as a result of
the war. Yet, he warned, constant
vigilance is necessary.
Martins Hits Regimentation.
The delegates at public meeting
last night heard a warning fror,
House Minority Leader Martin that
certain interests in this country.
trying to undermine the American
system of government. would regi-
ment physicians, euro their cpportu-
mites and arrest their progress.
They would deprive you of your
freedom he said And they would
do all this under the specious plea
of aiding the unfortunate and Civ
Ing all people security"
Representative Martin added: "A
physician on fixed salary and in
treadmill practice would not have
the same urge to watch zealouSly
over those in his care as the physi-
clan whose patient is his personal,
individual responsibility. BY de-
stroying initiative and progress, we
might well be sentencing vast num-
hers Of people to earlier death, be-
cause we could not as intelligently
cope with disease.
Definite Interest of All.
Every one of us has a definite
interest in seeing that every child.
every woman, every man secures
adequate medical aid and care. We
can and We will, as a Government,
discharge our full obligation to the
sick, the aged and the unfortunate
unable to paw their own way. But
we must do it in the American way
in way which will preserve the
spirit and the initiative of the men
and women Of your profession"
Conceding that it was necessary
for Congress to delegate eXtraor-
dinary and binding powers to the
executive branch of the Government
during the war, Mr.. Martin said:
For some years, small but power
ful group in this country has en-
deavored to undermine American in-
stitutions, American ideals and our
American way of life. These peo-
pie are as clever as they are deter
mined. They have promoted their
cause in the public press over the
airWays, on the platforms and in
books and pamphlets.
In Every Department..
Il do not believe it is an eXag-
eeration to say that they are rep
resented in every department of our
Government. They have tried to
destroy the confidence of the people
In their own special instrumentality
of control over their Government,
the Congress. They have gone so
far as to hint that Congress has
become a sort of fifth wheel an out
moded, cumberson branch of gov
ernment which has outlived its use
fulness"
These people, he said. plan Ito
substitute some form Of state So
cialism'
L do not believe the people or
their representatives in Congress
will permit business. agriculture and
the professions to be permanently
controlled by the bureaucrats
through regimentation.
DR.. Parran Speaks.
Difficulties of coping with pam
demic influenza were outlined at a
scientific session by Dr.. Thomas
Parran, surgeon general of the
United States Public Health Serv-
ice.
1t is not definitely known, he
pointed out whether isolated vi
ruses which have produced influenza