Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-07
Stop Killing
Yourself
By Dr.. Peter J. steincrOhn

Dear DR.. Steincrohn: Why
IS the Parkinson patient the
forgotten man?-Mrs. 7.
TRUE-UNTH about a
year ago! But no longer is he
forgotten and destined to suf-
fer for many years without
hope of special study and re-
het-not since a nightmare
turned into a dream for Mrs.
Jeanne Levey, founder of the
National Parkinson Founda-
ton. Its purpose is to make a
concerted, scientific attack on
this disease so long neglected.
About Is years ago Mrs. Le-
vey's husband began to have
the symptoms Of Parkinson's.
After repeated Illustrations
over the years In seeking aid
and not finding it, she deter
mined to organize help on a
national scale.
Ask Bob Hope about Mrs.
Levey. Although she is over
20, when you see her and lis
ten to her enthusiastic plans
she is actually no more than
80. He may tell you (she
won't tell mel how she got
him to fly to Miami for fund
raising dinners in the past
few years which netted the
foundation about $4,000.
Florida members Of Con-
gress have gone all out for
her project.
To date the Government
has come through with almost
$450.0OO in grants to be
matched by private contribu-
tons. BY the time you read
this, ground will have been
broken for the construction of
a l00-bed Parkinson inpatient
facility in Miami, first of its
kind anywhere.
Meanwhile, in a structure
already outgrown, doctors.
nurses and attendants have
during the past year-given
over 5000 patients treatment.
And these patients come from
all over the United States.
Why shouldn't they? It is an
institution devoted exclusively
to the study, diagnosis and
care of these patients. The
day IS long past when these
unfortunate people will be al
lowed to become helpless and
deteriorate like vegetables
forgotten on a shelf. %
Most people are aware that
there is such a disease as
Parkins0n's. First described
In England by DR.. James
Parkinson in 1917, 1t has been
ca lied such names as the
shaking palsy" and "paraly-
sis agitanS. !" These are unfor-
tunate descriptions of the dis
ease because, contrary to pop
ular opinion, no paralysis is
involved.
Due to some unknown cause
In one Of the large ganglia at
the base of the brain (inflam-
m a ton, degeneration or
chemical attack the patient
has some, or many, of the fol-
lowing symptoms; tremor, RI
gidity Of muscles, fixed facial
expression, shuffling gait,
speech disturbances, slowness
of movement, faulty body bal
ance, excess drooling and
reStlesSneSs.
Usually the patient, In spite
OF his handicaps, is aware of
his environment and relation
ships with others. Approx
mately is million patients
suffer from Parkinson's n
this country. Although the dis
ease is incurable, we can do
much to prolong life and
make patients comfortable.
| receive many letters from
family members of patients
who are afflicted with Parkin-
sons. Where to 60? What to
do? All / could tell them in
the past was to 60 to their
family doctor or to a hospital
with the hope that they could
find rehabilitation facilities.
Now, having seen with nv
own eyes the work being
done, l can nreservedly rec
ommend that, for informa-
ton and advice, they get in.
touch with Mrs. Jeanne Le.,
vey, President Of Parkinson
Rehabilitation Diagnostic Re-
search Institute, 1901 North,
west Ninth avenue, Miami.
Fla.
No longer is the patient
with Parkinson's disease the
forgotten man.
CBell syndicate)
DR.. Steincrohn's leafIet,
"When to Suspect Your Gall
Bladder" tUiH be mailed ON
receipt of q stamped, SELF
addressed envelope and IS
cents tn coin for handling.
Address DR.. Steincrohn in