Tobacco Documents Online

• 10035433 $2. NEW YORK PO~T New York, New York August 31, 1960 ayos Doubt ung Cancer, moking Link '.r.'':. . ~ . . . . . - .. : Rochester, Minn., Aug. 31 (AP) - A Mayo Clinic report belittles the- role of tobacco smoking as a cause of -lung cancer, but it- Indicates tobacco ` may be a contributing cause in some other diseases. "In my,own opinion, all avail- able relevant facts considered, it seems very doubtful smok- fng causes cancer of the lung," : wrote Dr. Joseph Berkson of the biometry,r and medical sta- tistics sectioti Dr. Berksoi~ said there Is as- : sociation between smoking and all causes of death generally, of - which cancer of the lung is only '' a small part'. The Mayo report by several •researchers at the famed clinic is called "physiologic and path- ologic aspects of smoking." - "It would seem reasonable for the ulcer patient to avoid smoking," concluded Dr. J. Arnold Bargen in a discussion of its effects on the digestive tract. And excessive smoking was cited in another section as contributing to. amblyopia, or dimness o2 vision. As for effects of smoking on the larynx and mouth, Dr. Kenneth D. Devine reported: "It' has been found to be an Important factor in the devel- opment of cancer of the oral cavity, Cigar and pipe smoking were found to increase the risk of cancer of the oral cavity more than cigaret'~ smoking did:' LOS ANGELES T'Ilm Los Angeles, California September 1, 1960 Smoking-Cancer ~~ Link Do~btedby 1"DOCtOi ? . ,. Rising lncid~ence May Be Due to Longer Life Expectancy, Physician Suggests ROCHESTER, Minn., Aug.,°Are not the Increased 31 (UPI)-Dr. Jose h Berk- ~aths from cancer of the p , lung, at least in part, In com- son of the Mayo Clinic says he pensation of these decreased d o u b t a cigarette smokingI deaths?" he asked. causes lung cancer. I Opinions Presented Berkson suggested the ris - $erkson's , opinions and ing incidence of cancer of the those of several other Mayo lung might be attributed to Clinic staff members were the ever lengthening life ..ex•I present'ed at a recent sym- `ga ette smoking as a i health. on smoking and cause of lung cancer is ques- 'tionable;' B e r k a o n said. "There is some association between smoking and all causes of death. and cancer of the lung is only & atuall cause of death. "Available relevant facts considered,- it seems, in my opinion+ ve`ry doubtful smok- Their papers played down smoking as a lung cancer causpt but pointed to tobac- co as a possible cause irt other diseaseq, . Dr. Edgar A. Hines Jr. said the use of tobacco has no apparent affect on blood pressure. But, he said, "nu- ing causes cancer of the merous well-controlled stud- lung." ies show inhaling tobacco' Pipes Absolved smoke in other ways causes Bcrkson said studies have,a marked deerease in the just' about absolved cilpr and flow of blood into the ex- e pipe smoking as cancer-caus-;',tremities." ing agents. Ulcer Cases He said he smokes pipes Dr. Kenneth D. Devine and cigars but joked that I may have to go back to said smoking may be a cause smoking cigarettes to prove In deveIoping cancer of the I don't believe in those sta- mOC har and tisties. (linking cigarettes and found to piinecrease smoking the cancer)." was fo Referring to deaths caused risk of' cancer of the oral by tuberculosis, I+T e r k s o n cavity more than cigarette said a significant proportion smoking did," he said. of, those who would have Oher papers told of smok- died from tuberculosis in ing hindering the healing of early life now die of cancer ulcers, causing cancer of the nf the 1unpy throat and' having affect on certon diseases. : U.S. NEWS & WORLD September 12, 1960 KKPa ~ FRON P,I}~E _ .t . ,, s..~': z ,. CANCER AND SMOKING- MAYO DOCTOR'S VIEWS ROCHESTER, Minn.-The h-layo Clin- ic's top authority on medical statistics says he doesn't believe in the statistics linking cigarettes and lung cancer. `' In fact, says Dr. Joseph Berkson, di- rectoc of biometrics and medical statistics at the Clinic, it is "very doubtful" that smoking causes cancer of the lung. Dr. Berkson said that the rising inci- dence of lung cancer,might be linked to the lengthening life expectancy of Amer- icans. With tuberculosis on the decrease, he suggested, many of' those who once would have died of tuberculosis early in life now die late in life of lung cancer. CLEVE7AND PRESS Cleveland, Ohio September 1, 1960 Doubts Smoking Is Cause of Cancer ROCHESTER, 1Wlinn.-[1PD- Dr..Joseph BerksQn of the Mayo Clinic says he doubts cigaret smoking causes lung cancer. Berkson suggested the ris- ing incidence of cancer of the lung might' be attributed to the ever lengthenthg life ex- pectancy. . "Cigaret'smoking as a cause of lung ' cancer is question- abje;" Berkson said. "There js' 'some association between smoking and all causes of death, and cancer of the lung Is only a small cause of .tieath:' _ F. ~ T , 4kl '..Jr CON'1r'INU'ED .. .. ~ . .. ,..4:'tF~.~ ~.'• ..: