Evening star., 1948-10-13

Excavation Marks
Start Of Research
Clinic in Bethesda
"All this was forest land several
weeks ago. said an official of the
National Institute of Health.
He pointed to a huge excavation
in the rolling Bethesda hills, where
about dozen bulldozers were chew
ing out chunks of earth to make
way for the foundations and lower
floors Of the long-awaited Clinical
Center for research and treatment
Of major diseases.
Construction crews moved in early
last month to begin the first stage
of the $40,000,oo0 project. They
have nearly year to finish three
underground levels. Other phases
of the l3-story building will be
provided for in later contracts.
The first contract also calls for
preliminary grading of the grounds
and construction of roads near the
center, which is located on a site
ar dioi,,ino tho Tpctit,,toe pf IJooltI !,
across from the Naval Medical
Center.
July, 1851, Is Target Date.
An attractive bungalow. standing
on the edge OF the excavation, will
be moved to a safer location else
where on the grounds of the insti-
tutes. 1t was part Of the estate of
Mr.. and Mrs. Luke I. Wilson, who
contributed the 9o-acre site for use
by the Public Health Service.
DR.. Norman H. Topping. associate
director of the Institutes. said July,
1851. has been set as the target
date for opening the doors OF the
new center. 1t will provide SOC
beds for patients, carefully selected
according to their illnesses. The
specialized treatment needed by pa
tients will be as much a considera-
ton as the research value they can
offer, DR.. Topping said.
About half the space in the vast
structure will be taken up by labora-
tories. The research will center on
conrar hoorf opI r,oa,,4o1 i11,,eeeae
the major causes of sickness and
death. Special sections also will
deal with such long term illnesses
as arthritis, which are becoming
increasingly important to an aging
population" officials pointed out.
Atomic Energy Research.
One wing of the center will spe-
cialize on radioactive isotopes and
other developments of atomic energy
research. Plans call for installa-
ton, DR.. Topping said, of small
cyclotron in the wing. Another new
development planned is to carry
television into operating rooms, to
replace the amphitheaters that are
common in most hospitals.
A separate building will house ex-
perimental animals used at the in
stitutes, and another will be con-
structed for research OF the new
antibiotic drugs.
DR.. Topping said it's too early"
to talk about recruiting the vast
number of personnel who will be
needed to carry out the ambitious
program at the new center But he
doesn't anticipate any great diff
culties
Consultant Program Is Considered.
For one thing, he said. a consultant
program probably will be set up to
draw the services of top medical
specialists at universities here. at
Johns Hopkins University in Balti-
more and at the University Of Penn
sylvanla.
In addition to workers at the in
stitutes, he said, the Public Health
Service also has colonies of ex-
perts scattered throughout the coun-
try on specific research projects,
some of whom probably will be
called to duty at the center. Addi-
tional aid will come from students
engaged in research through fellow
ships set up by the service, he
added.
Legislation will be necessary, DR..
Topping said, to determine what
patients will pay for treatment at
the center and how much.
Officials, he added, also intend to
ask Congress for funds to build
housing for staff members who must
stay near the clinic. Preliminary
plans already call for construction
of dormitory building, efficiency
apartments and a large apartment
building near the hospital-research
center.
214 More Acres Sought.
Congress has set limit expense
of sac, 0,000, 900 for the project. About
IS ,000, 900 has been appropriated and
SIS, 900 900 has been granted
In the form Of contract authoriza-
tions.
The Public Buildings Administra-
ton, meanwhile, is negotiating the
purchase of about 214 acres of land
the present 90-acre site
from the Sisters Of the Visitation of
Washington, the Rev. G. Freeland
Peters and the Woodmont Country
Club. PBA officials said agreements
have been reached with all the
owners and that the purchases are
being checked by the Justice De-
partment.
Purchase Of the additional land
was urged to give the Public Health
Service activities in Bethesda room
for expansion in future years.
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