Evening star., 1943-09-05
Saving Of Life, Taxes
Seen in Program for
Cancer Control Here

Savings In lives and taxes are
stressed In the District Health De-
partment budget estimates which
call for the establishment Of can
Ger control division and o mental
hygiene service.
Both Of these programs have been
requested unsuccessfully heretofore
although they have tho support Of
many interested groups. Among
other proposals, they win be dis
cussed at public hearings September
l6 and II, called by the city Com
missioners to ascertain public re-
action Of such expenditures.
Supports Its Request.
In support of the request for less
than $4,000 for establishment Of
the cancer control division, the de-
partment said:
Educational campaigns smpha-
sizing the efficacy Of early dag
nosis and treatment, the establish
ment Of cancer diagnostic clinics,
and the provision Of adequate lab
oratory facilities for biopsy work
are essential. The American College
OF Surgeons has In its files records
Of more than 10000 men and women
who have had cancer and who have
been cured for at least five years
due to early diagnosis and treat
ment.
Thirty y-eight Of the States have
cancer-control divisions. The Unit
ed States Public Health Service, in
its survey Of health conditions In
the District, stated: There is need
IN the District for q well-organized
cancer-control program. Certain
deficiencies exist In the present
program, owing In q large part to
the fact there is not a central
co-ordinating agency The Medical
Society OF the District also recon-
mends establishment Of q bureau
of cancer control"
Activities Of Bureau.
Such bureau would have the
following activities, officials said:
Establishment Of diagnostic
service, related both to the work
Of the Health Department clinics
and private physicians; establish
ment OF a laboratory and surgical
biopsy service by the Health De-
partment; coordination of efforts
OF other clinics and private physi-
clans, and lay education.
In general support of the plan.
the department reminded that 1,108
persons died of cancer during l942
in the District, and that the death
rate from cancer per 100000 popula-
ton had increased from 75.6 In
1905 to 1928 in 1885 and to 1919 in
1910.
Establishment Of mental health
service in the Health Department
would cost less than SAC, 600 for next
year, as proposed by Health Onlcer
George G. Ruhland, who said this
new service will save District funds
by reducing the number of cases
requiring disqualification"
Services Proposed.
Services proposed for this division
would include: Out patient clinic
facilities at Gallinger Hospital for
the, treatment Of adults, establish
ment Of a child guidance clinic, to
include preventive efforts as well as
kindergarten facilities for children;
and central Office to coordinate
the efforts OF all agencies, public and
private, now dealing with the prob
lem.
Justifying the need of such service,
the department said:
. "An average of 4,700 District cases
are cared for continually at St.
Elizabeth's Hospital, at an outlay of
$3,250,000. The cost of an average
commitment to correctional or
mental institution is 5000. If this
proposed mental hygiene service. in
the course Of year. prevented only
nine cases from being committed to
an institution, it would save more
than the cost of operation"
1t was recalled that establish
ment of the mental health service
had been recommended by the
Public Health Service; by the sub
scribers to the Kepecs' Report on
Child Care, the District Medical
Society and the Council of Social
Agencies. The 1912 report of the
Police Department was quoted as
saying "One of the most pathetic
developments Of the war situation
has been the very heavy increase In
the number of new Government
workers requiring disqualification for
mental observation.
Meanwhile, an additional $485 900
was requested to cover the cost of
District patients at Freedmen's
Hospital. This brings the depart