Tobacco Documents Online

REAR ADMIRAL CHARLES S. STEPHENSON MEDICAL CORPS. UNITED STATES NAVY (RET(RED) 4457 QUE STREET. N. W. WASHINGTON 7. D. C. 5 January 1954 Mr. Joseph F. Cul].man, Jr., President Benson and Hedges 600 5th Avenue New York City, New York Dear Mr. Cu27man: ~ ~. StA"J, ~ You might be interested to know that I have carefully read all the recent lay press and scientific 3ournal accounts concerning the relationship (if any) between the increased incidence of cancer of the lung and cigarette smoking. You should know something of my background, interest and competence. A partial biographical sketch can be found in "Who is Important in Medicine", "%bo is Who in America" or "American Men of Science". While Director of the Division of Preventive Medicine in the Navy Depart- ment, I co-authored a study of "Cancer in the U.S. Navy". This was the first time in the history of cancerology that such a study was made in a "controlled population". It was published in the January 1939 number of the American Journal of Hygiene, and reported the incidence of al7l cancer in more than one million man years of life. Before the previously mentioned publicity "broke", preliminary plans were made to bring the facts down to date. A rough estimate indicates that in excess of 30 million man years of life can be so studied. It is also the only place on earth, where fairly complete records easily can be had in one place with punch cards available to reduce the cost and increase the accuracy of any study. There are many other facts pertinent to the issue which should be briefly dis- cussed. In the briefest form some of them are: (1) Availability Enlistment and discharge X-rays. I believe the Navy would make this material avail- able to me. (2) Continuous health record. (3) "Locator Systems" making possible a trace of the victim either to the Yeterans Adma.ni.stration, to the aretiremeent rolls", or in case of death to the pension rolls (of the dependents). The Army has a-bigger experience, but the records are much harder to locate. They are in at least four locations. And the Ar:a,y might be reluctant to permit a stucl~, of the facts. This should be little bar to the study I propose, as the Navy previously authorized the cited publi- cation. The co-auftw - Ir. Sigismund Peller of New York can confirm the above facts. He is a thoroughly competent statistician, and has extensive publications on cancer.

Mr. Joseph F. Cullman, Jr., President -2- 5 January 1954 If these facts are of interest to you, your Board, or the selected Research D3.rector, I should be happy to discuss in greater detail what is available, how it can be made available, estimate of coats and statis- tical treatment of the data. Since the Navy has a considerable body of officers and men who are "career members" it is certain that information, of vital interest to your industry, the facts, hence then to the scientific world, could be revealed by the brief outline possible in this informal letter. If there is further information I can give you, please let me know. May I suggest you come down and have lunch with me at the Army & Navy Club when a more detailed presentation can be given.