Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-10
By John McKeIwoy

Whether or not smoking causes
lung cancer, the smoker runs a
higher risk developing cancer of
the lung than those who do not
smoke, a statistician reported
today.
The announcement represents
: the latest in the current con-
troversy in medicine over smok-
ing versus lung cancer. 1t was
made at today's session of the
international Congress of Pa
thology, meeting in the Shore
ham Hotel.
The speaker, Sidney j. Cutler
of the National Cancer Institute.
emphasized that his findings do
not indict cigarette smoke as
the specific cause of lung can
Ger. He added that statiSticianS
ARE not satisfied as yet" Fur
Their studies, he said, employing
additional statistical breakdowns
in population studies are needed
to narrow the group of agents
suspected of causing lung can
GER.
Mr.. Cutler gave these figures,
based on a group of white males
about 40 years old:
Chances are six in 1000 that
n-smokers will develop lung
cancer by age 80: Is in 1000 for
men smoking less than a half
a pack of cigarettes a day; 40 in
1000 for men smoking half
to one pack a day. and 30 in
1000 for those smoking more
than . pack day."
Cause Not Determined.
These estimates, Mr.. Cutler
said, apply whether or not smok-
ing causes lung cancer. What
ever the specific cause, the lung
cancer risk is higher for smokers
than for non-Smokers.
At the same meeting Today,
a Swedish doctor, discussing the
lung cancer question. told his
colleagues that the younger gen.
Grafton should be advised against
excessive smoking" He added:
There is strong, but so far
not quite complete, evidence that
tobacco smoking, especially Gig
arctic smoking, is the most i'm
portant factor causing the main
part of the lung cancer cases"
DR.. N. Ringertz added that any
cancer-causing factor in tobacco
smoke has not yet been defined,
and I'VE do not know whether
it acts alone" with some other
factor like industrial air pollu-
ton"
I'VE must" he said, intensity
research on the nature and pos
sible elimination of cancer
causing factors in tobacco smoke
and air pollution in industrial
working places"
Special Area for Study.
Discussing cancer of the lung
In Thailand, DR.. Paul D. RoSahn
of New Britain, Conn, said that
country offers an unusual OPP
portunity to study one segment
of the lung cancer question.
Some investigators have sus-
pected the paper burned in
smoking a cigarette is the cam
cer-causing agent. DR.. Rosahn
suggested that, since many ma
tives in Thailand smoke cigar
cites of tobacco wrapped in dried
banana leaves, or in dried petals
of the lotus flower, these indi-
viduals could be contrasted to
those who smoke paper-wrapped
tobacco.
He added that cancer of the
lung is considered rare in Thai
land by surgeons and patholo-
gists.
DR.. Pao-Chang Hou of Hong
Kong China, reported on an ex-
pertinent in which mice exposed
to incense smoke twice a day for
over year did not develop can
Ger of the lung.
In scientific papers presented
yesterday, three Washington
doctors reported that the use
of cortisone and hydrocortisone
were helpful in saving the lives
of unborn children threatened
with the blood disease caused by
the RH-factor in blood.
Drs. Oscar B. Hunter, jr.; Will