Evening star., 1949-10-18
Doctors toHear
0fNewAspects
In CancerF Fight
Medical Society Plans
AII-Doy Discussion
On Latest Research
By George Beveridqe

portance of early diagnosis, will
be discussed today at the second
session of the District Medical
Society's Goth annual three-day
scientific assembly in the Hotel
Statler.
A full days scientific program
has been turned over to the
American Cancer Society's District
division in recognition of the i'm
portance of recent steps in the
cause and treatment of the dread
disease.
Among authorities on the pro-
gram will be DR.. Edward A. Gall
of the University of Cincinnati
College of Medicine and DR.
Freddy Homburger. of Tufts Col
lege Medical School, who will dis
cuss early cancer and it's physio-
logical aspects. DR.. William C
Hueper. of the National Cancer
Institute. will outline work on in
dustrial and environmental fac
tors as possible causes of cancer
for which special laboratory re-
Gently was set up at Georgetown
University Medical School.
Speakers Listed
Speakers at the afternoon meet
Ing will include DR.. Elise Strang
LEsperance. DR.. Joseph H. Bur-
chenal and Dr. Alexander Brun-
schwig of the Cornell University
Medical College. and DR.. Richard
H. Chamberlain of the University
Of Pennsylvania Medical School.
At luncheon meeting, the Rev.
Edmund A. Walsh, regent of the
Georgetown University Foreign
Service School, will speak on
Roots of the Cold War"
The public is invited to a meet
Ing at 8:l5 o'clock tonight to- hear
DR.. Alex j. Steigman and Dr.. Hart
E. Van Ripper. medical consultant
and medical director of the Ma
tional foundation for .Infantile
Paralysis, discuss latest develop
ments in research and treatment
OF polio. The meeting will be held
at the Hotel Statler's Presidential
Room.
LOO Doctors at Session.
About 1,700 doctors who turned
out for the opening session yes
terday, meanwhile, heard first re-
ports of an important Gallinger
Hospital study which shows prom
Use Of; . way to overcome the re-
slstence of tuberculosis bacteria
to thf nR1lg, streptomycin.
DIR. Monroe J. Romansky, asso-
clate professor of medicine at the
George Washington University
Medical School, told OF the effec-
tiveness of streptomycin in tuber-
culosis treatment. But in about 40
days. he said, germs that cause the
disease tend to develop a resist
ance to the drug.
BY using streptomycin in con-
junction with a new drug, PAS
(para-aminosalicylic acid}, how
ever, 1t has been found the resist
ance does not develop. This gives
hope that the bacteria combating
drugs can be used indefinitely
without losing their power.
Reports on Study.
In study of nine patients at
Gallinger, DR.. Romansky reported
no resistant bacteria were found
when streptomycin and PAS were
used together. In another patient
he said, the germs resisted effects
OF the drug when streptomycin
was used alone But after. the
patient was given PAS alone, no
drug-resistant bacteria were found
over a 10-month period.
DR.. Romansky said he does not
feel streptomycin is valuable
drug in any except tuberculous
infections.
Treatment of other. new anti
biotics, especially used in combi-
nations, were described by DR.
Harry F. Bowling, clinical pro-
fessor of medicine at George
Washington; DR.. Harold L. Hirsh
Washington physician, and DR.
Joseph E. Smadel, virus and
rickettsial diseases chief at the
Army Medical Department Re-
search and Graduate School.
DR.. Hawley Gives Talk.
In an address to the physicians
DR.. Paul R. Hawley, head of the
Blue Cross-Blue Shield Commis-
sions, urged the medical profes.
sion to regain the confidence o1
the people" in the present system
OF medical care.
Referring to attacks on organ
lied medicine, DR.. Hawley said he
has come to the conclusion, from
speaking with hundreds of people
that "the confidence of some OF
them have been shaken in the un-
self1shness and public service o1
our profession.
The blunt-speaking doctor
warned that people will not tol-
crate situation in which the
quality of medical care depends or
ability to pay" and urged that
more adequate voluntary prepay.
ment insurance plans be devel-
oped. DR.. Hawley said group in
surance sis not the answer; that
the prepaid protection must be
open to everyone.
At the same time, however, he
warned that. unless doctors pro-
tect the plans against costly
abuses. they will be priced out OF
the market"