Evening star., 1951-10-02
Hoarse Voice
|sCancerSigna|,
Doctor Warns
But Other Causes
Can Creute Condition,
Medical Society Told
By Wallace {. CIoyton

Cal SOcleCyS IZQ annual SCicA-
tific assembly.
DR.. Paul H. Holinger of the
University of Illinois Medical
School, said that coughs and
hoarseness often are dismissed as
merely due to cigarette smoking.
However, he said cancer of the
larynx affects the vocal cords
thus producing hoarseness - al
most as soon as the growth begins.
Early Detection Important.
If such cancer is detected
early, it can be removed and the
patient will lose neither his voice
nor his life.
Dr.. Holinger pointed out, how
ever, there are other causes OF
chronic hoarSeneSS. Among them,
he said, are "Screamer'S nodes,
which are small growths on the
vocal cords of persons who use
their voices extensively.
These growths are sometimes
detected in children who use
their voices excessively in scream
ing and shouting at play.
Other modes" are "the occu-
pational disease" of such persons
as auctioneers or preachers who
are forced to use their voices to
an abnormal degree.
Relationship to Cigarettes.
AS far as the relationship be-
tween excessive cigarette smoking
and cancer is concerned, DR.. Hol-
niger told reporters later that:
I'VE think chronic irritation
has something to do with cancer.
Many people who smoke develop
chronic irritation of the throat;
therefore, cigarette smoking may
have some influence on cancer of
the larynx."
He emphasized, however, that
physicians have established no
definite link at this time between
cigarette smoking and cancer Of
the throat or lungs.
"Inf1amatory changes which
we feel are pre-malignant often
occur in many persons who smoke
excessively" he said. But there
still is no definite proof that
smoking causes a malignant con-
dition."
Panic Symptoms Discussed.
Tn dicnyccior, ~, manic cvy,op
toms which might be expected in
case of atomic attack. DR.. j. S.
Tyhurst of the Dalhousie Public
Health Clinic, Halifax, Nova Sco-
tia, reported on surveys which he
had made during and after dis
asters in Canada.
DR.. TyhurSt, a psychiatrist. said
he and his group had concluded
that it might be beneficial if per-
sons not severely injured in case
of atomic attack would be allowed
to talk about it as much as they
wished, rather than be given sed-
atives to quiet their nerves.
Talking 1t Out.
There seems to be a healthy
level of noise after a disaster
strikes, when people talk it over
and describe their experiences, )"
DR.. Tyhurst said.
This seems to help them" he
added, asserting they make bet
ter adjustment if they can ven
filo+a tbeir feelings"
He advised sedatives for the
slightly injured or uninjured only
if their behavior appeared to be
markedly destructive"
d. 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 large relief
map, illustrating the co-ordina-
ton that would be necessary
among medical, health, police and
fire officials.
At a luncheon meeting yeSter-
day, DR.. Louis H. Bauer, presi-
dent-elect of the American Medi-
cal Association, warned the doc
tors against "these people who
would use health as lever to get
votes"
However. he said, doctors are
not blameless in this controversy
over a 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 the part of the medical pro-
fessiou 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:
l. The need for individual,
rather than group health nsur-
ance.
2. The need for medical insur-
-ance protection for those over IS.
8. 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 up of indigents depending
on Government-sponsored clinics
or free private care; those to
whom the cost of medical care is
no sacrifice, and those who would
seldom seek medical advice any
way. = .. -
There are now about II million
Americans with disqualification
insurance in some form; 66 mil.
lion with surgical insurance, ano
Is million with policies covering
all medical care.