Evening star., 1950-02-28
ACES Biology Chief
Cites Atomic Benefits,
Hits DiscoveNCritics

An Atomic Energy Commission
official declared last night it is
Childish" to wish man had not
discovered the secrets of atomic
energy.
Fear aroused by talk of super
bombs and atom spies" is threat
ening today to overshadcW the
benefits that will come from the
discoveries, said DR.. Charles L.
Dunham, medical chief of the
Aces division Of biology and
medicine.
Addressing the 18th annual
meeting of Group Health Associa-
ton, the scientist said new and
useful discoveries" are taking
place almost every day in med
ical research with radioactive sub
stances.
eff man only will give himself
half a chance" he added, "the
benefits to be reaped in better
health, more productive farms,
better materials for industry and
new sources of power can all be
had for the asking"
Different Type of Fuel.
DR.. Dunham told about 800
CHA members attending the meet
ing that to wish man had never
unleashed atomic power sis just
as childish as to wish that man
had never learned how to use fire" :"
The atom bomb, he said. differs
only in degree from similar appli-
cations of fire made by man for
the past several thousands years"
In medicine, however, DR.. Dun
ham said, undue emphasis" prob
ably has been placed on the role of
atomic energy in solving the cancer
problem. Radioactivity is likely to
give more benefit in uncovering
secrets of how the body works than
in direct treatment for ailments,
he predicted.
The physician explained that
one of the best methods is to make
normal body substances radioac-
tive so that their actions within
the body can be traced. With
these "tracers," he said. specific
disease then can be studied.
In one project. he said NOR
phine and digitalis are made ra-
dioactive by growing the plants
which produce these important
drugs in an atmosphere of radio
active carbon dioxide.
Studies also are under way with
radioactive sex hormones, he said,
to learn how these important
chemicals are made and used by
the body.
Douglas Asks Support.
In another talk Senator Doug
las. Democrat, of Illinois asked
the CHA members to support a
bill he is preparing as an alterna-
tive to President Truman's COM
pulsory health insurance pro-
posal.
The Senator's plan would pay
catastrophe" medical bills. after
families spend from their own
pockets $3.50 or 5 per cent of their
annual incomes. It would be
financed by a compulsory l per
cent payroll tax on workers within
the $5.000-a-year income bracket,
and their employers. "
Senator Douglas said he thought
people making $4,000 a year "can
afford to take care, of themselves,
except in really unusual emer-
gencies." He said he. hopes to
Introduce his measure, this year.
William E. Warne, CHA presi-7
dent, told the members there are
more than $4,000 participants in
their plan-an increase of 1000
during the last year., For fiat rates
each month, the plan provides
general and specialized medical
care and pays hospital bills. A
dental service program recently
has been included.
To Double Initial Fee.
To meet expansion programs,
officials said, the group will raise
it's initial membership fee from
$40 to $40 on April /.
The leading project this year,
they said, will be to raise funds