Tobacco Documents Online

• 1003543381 NEW YORK PthT New York, New York August 31, 1960 ayos Doubt ung Cancer, moking Link '.r.'':. . ~ . . . . . - .. : Rochester, Minn., Aug. 31 (AP) - A Mayo Clinie 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; aIl avail- able relevant facts considered, it seems very doubtful smok- fng causes cancer of the lung," : wrote Dr. Joseph Berkson of . the biometr yr and medieal sta- '. tistics sectioti Dr. Berkso~ said there is as- : sociation between smoking and e11 causes of death generally, of - which cancer of the lung is only '' a smaIl 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 eited in another section as • contributing too 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 fmportant 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 TIlMES hos Angeles, California September 1, 1960 Smoking-Cancer Link Dou btedby 1 DOCtOi Rising lncid~ence May Be Due to Longer Life Expectanty, Physician Suggests ROCHESTER, Minn., Aug. °Are not the increased 31 (UPI)-Dr. Joseph Berk- ~aths from cancer of the ,lung, at least in part, in com- son of the Mayo Clinic says he pensation of these decreased d o u b t s cigarette smoking1 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 inembers wer; the ever lengthening life ..ex•I present'ed at a reeent sym- `ga ette smoking as a i healthm on emoking and cause of lung cancer is ques- 'tionable;' B e r k s o n said. "There is some association between smoking and ail causes of death, and cancer of the lung is oaly a~ stuaIl cause of death. "Available relevant facts considered,- it seems, in my opinion+ very doubtful smok- Their papers played down smoking as a lung cancer causp. but pointed to tobac- co as a possible cause irt other diseaseq, . Dr. Edgar A. Hines Jr. said the use of tobaceo 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 absolced cigar and flow of blood into the ex- pipe smaking as cancer-caus-tremities." ing agents. - UIcer Cases He said he smokes pipes Dc. Kennetlt D. Devine and cigars butjoked 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- mOChar and tisties (Iinking cigarettes and und to piinecrease smoking the caneer),, was fo Referring to deaths caused risk of' cancer of the oral by tuberculosis, IT 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 1unp. throat and' having affect on -- - ccrt~in diseases. / 203Sf U.S. NEWS & WORLD: September 12, 1960 EPa ~ FRON PAGE 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 expeetancy of Amer- icans. With tuberculosis on the decrease, he suggested, many of' those who once would have died of tuberculosis early in lif'e now die late in life of lung eancer. CLEVE7~IND FRESS Cleveland, Ohio September 1, 1960 Doubts Smoking is Cause of Cancer ROCHESTER, 1Wlinn.-([1PD- Dr..Joseph Berksqn of the Mayo Clinic says he doubts eigaret 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 is' 'some association between smoking and alI causes of death, and cancer of the lung Is only a small cause of tieath:' - F. 'T , 4kl '..J r CON'1r'INUED .. .. ~ . .. ,..4:'tF~.~ C.'• ..: