Evening star., 1951-10-02
Medical ParIey
To Study Atom
War Problems
Physicians to Seek
Ways to Cope With
Radiation Injuries
By WoIIoce E. Claxton

fare.
DR.. Everett I. Evans, professor
Of surgery at the Medical College
OF Virginia, was to start the sec
ond days session with discussion
of injuries caused by radiation
and atomic heat. DR.. Evans is
chairman of the subcommittee on
burns of the National Research
Councils Committee on Atomic
Casualties.
Scheduled to follow DR.. Evans
was DR.. j. S. Tyhurst of the Dali
housie Public Health Clinic, Hall
fax, Nova Scotia, with a lecture
on panic symptoms which might
be expected in case of atomic
attack
ID. c. Defense Plan Shown.
Among the exhibits set up at
the assembly's Hotel Statler head
quarters was one showing plans
for District civil defense in case
of atomic attack. Prepared by the
District Civil Defense Office. the
exhibit contained a large relief
map. illustrating the co-ordina-
ton that would be necessary
among medical, health. police and
fire officials.
Physicians attending the open
ing session yesterday heard Col.
August w. Splitter of the Walter
Reed Medical Center describe the
successful use of engine solutions
in clearing away damaged and
poisonous tissues from the wounds
of Korean veterans.
Engines in the solutions stim-
ulate the digestion" of bacterial
colonies and blood segments in the
wounds in the same way that
engines in the stomach stimu-
late digestion of food.
The action of the engines on
the unwanted materials causes the
waste to be reduced to a f1uid-like
state, which is then drained from
the wounds.
Faster Healing Noted.
Through use of this aid in treat
ment of wounds, Col. Splitter said
some wounds were cleared up
without secondary surgery; ampu-
tation Stumps healed faster, with
further surgery sometimes un-
necessary, and debris" around
compound fractures was removed.
He emphasized. however, that
engines are in no way a Substi-
tute for surgery.
Col. Splitter. chief of the hos
pitfalls orthopedic section, re-
ported on SO selected cases which
had been treated with an engine
solution known as "streptokinase-
streptodornse." This solution is
made from liquid engines given
off by streptococcuS germs grown
in the laboratory.
Another 20 patients have been
treated with an engine solution
developed from beef pancreas.
Both accomplish the same pur-
pose.
The healing time for most am
putation Stumps was reduced from
as high as six weeks. to three
weeks, Col. Splitter said.
Results were noticed in all cases
within 48 hours after the initial
engine application, he said. In
many cases. several applications
were necessary.
The solutions are applied either
through a tube inserted under a
rubber "dam" cemented around
the wound or by application of an
engine jelly over the entire sur
face of the wound.
In Use at Walter Reed.
The solutions IN use at Walter
Reed for about the last year, also
seem to increase the effectiveness
of antibiotic drugs, Col. Splitter
said.
In another discussion of the
same subject, DR.. William S. Til
lett pointed out the solutions have
no harmful effect on living,
healthy tissue. In fact, he said,
repeated applications of the solu-
tions may actually stimulate re-
growth of tissue.
DR.. Tillett, pioneer in research
on enzyme-aid in wound treat
ment, is professor of medicine at
the New York University College
of Medicine.
At luncheon meeting, DR..
Louis II. Bauer, president-elect of
the American Medical Association,
warned the doctors against these
people who would use health
as lever to get votes"
However. he said, doctors are
not blameless in this controversy
over national compulsory health
insurance program, and he ad-
vised them to clear up defects in
the present health program.
Many ills due to indifference
OH tire part of the medical pro-
fession are being corrected, :"
he SAID. But unless we move
faster, the solution will be taken
out OF our hands"
main Problems Outlined.
DR. Bauer, secretary general of
the World Medical Association,
said thai. among the problems
needing attention now are:
/. The need for individual,
rather than group health insur-
ance. .,..,.t
2. The need for medical insur-
ance protection for those over IS.
3. Enlargement of the public
health program on a community
level.
DR.. Bauer said that, when 100
million citizens are adequately
covered by voluntary health in
surance programs, all those need
ing prepaid care will be taken
care Of. The rest, he said, will
be made I'D of indipents demanding