Show r Vigilance on Part of Health Officials Stands I Between People and Enemies of I Editor Not Note Th The followIng follow follow- I Ing article written en on th the I I theme Eternal Vigilante Vigilant It U Uthe I II I th the Price of Freedom out out- outlines outlines lines Imes the work of agencies concerned cond con con- with the health and andI nd welfare of the American peo pee I pie It was complied compiled In the office of of- office fice flee of State Stat Sanitarian Robert Robert Robert Rob Rob- RobI I ert Burgner Price who Is II In charge of the State Department Department Depart Depart- ment of Health services Inthe In Inthe Inthe the Moab area a Vigilante In the modern modem sense might be used to Identify Identity the public health officers state local and national stand staid guard between the people and the enemies of health These I vigilantes Include not only of of- I fivers of the l Public Health Services Ser Ser- vices but of the Food and onel Drug Administration the National I Cancer Institute te and d dozens ens of f I other official and private medical med med med-I teal ical health and research I organizations organ organ- whoso responsibility Is Isto Isto to serve and protect you The vigilance of or some ome of these I agencies their te technicians and end enforcement officers help to protect pro pro pro-I us from Crom contagious disease and a ad i a q result of Immunization medical detection and Improved sanitation many of the ancient killers virtually have Ve disappeared disappear disappear- ed We are however threatened with a whole new set of health hazard such ns as occupational diseases water and ard atomic atomic ato- ato 1 mic out fall w we ourselves have created as ns part of our modern modern mod mod- ern environment These arc are more difficult to control than the older well-known well diseases be be- I call cau cause e our environment and our I habits are changing so rapidly How flow can scientific protection I keep pace with the hazards Incident Incident Inci Inci- dent to scientific progress Take the case of cancer Malignant growths ate are pro probably ably as lIS old ns as man but there Is mounting evidence that at least some cancers In some organs of the body are caused by foreign foreign foreign for for- eign substances related to modern modern mod mod- ern usages and Industrial hazards haz haze ards For example without the application of known safety mea men measures measures the dust breathed by uranium uranium ura ura- I alum miners and other workers I results in a higher than normal j Incidence of lung cancer Mil Millions lions of dollars dollar have been spent by government and private Institutions In In- In Including the tobacco companies to determine if tobacco to bacco bacca causes lung cancer carper and if so why Out of this research will come controls or improved products to remove or lessen the danger The whole field of food adulteration adulteration adulteration adul adul- food additives and supplements supplements sup sup- presents a constant problem Every such item must be carefully screened to pro protect pro protect us against dangers This is Intensified by the many many new products appearing on the market market market mar mar- ket and the Ignorance carelessness careless careless- ness or haste of some ers Also through constant research re- re research research re re- search and Increased knowledge some ingredients f for o r m mer e r ly thought harmless or even beneficial bene bene- benc 1 are found to be deleterious while new ones are Invented or discovered to serve better the requirements of modern modem diet aswell as aswell aswell well as production and tion For example sassafras tea was for many of us grandmothers grandmother's grandmothers grandmother's grandmothers grandmother's ther's spring tonic and remedy for miner ailments as well asa as asa a pleasant beverage Yet recently recent recent- ly a 11 panel of distinguished set set- p. p representing the U. U S S. S Public Health Service the Food and Drug Administration the National Cancer Institute the U.S. U.S. U. U S S. S Department of Agriculture and the non-government non National Nation al Academy of Science found that Oil of oC Sassafras or is possibly a minor cause of cancer cancer of the liver While there Is no conclusive evidence evidence evi evl dence of the result with humans the essence unquestionably caused caus caus- caused ed liver cancer in female rats and in dogs The Food and Drug Administration Administration ordered on December 5 1960 that Oil of Sassafras could not be henceforth in any food or beverage in the United States It is a measure of the cooperation of the Food Industry that all manufacturers of soft sott drinks in which sassafras was wal used for flavoring had discontinued discontinued discon discon- tinned its use merely on suspicion cion don prior to the Issuance of the order While the organized ethical food and drug Industry is thus thu in large measure self policing because of the high standards standards' that have proved profitable as aswell aswell aswell well as protective the American public is still victimized and endangered en en- endangered by many crooks and ancl quacks who prey upon the gullible gulli ble and those needing medical attention who think they cannot afford a doctor The American Medical Association estimates that the vitamin mineral food foal supplement and other rackets not to be confused with the legitimate professional distribution tion of accredited products costs the American people more than per y year ar and causes untold suffering and death on the part of those who follow tollow the advice of unprincipled I quacks when they need urgent medical or surgical aid ald How flow can the people find protection when the advertising of the tha racketeers the pseudo scientists is so sounding professional so soI I convincing T Here are a few tew tips 1 Dont Don't rely on what the vendor ven ven- vendol vendor dor dol or the advertising says read the label What IT says about a product sold interstate is controlled by Federal law 2 2 Buy foods and drugs from reputable outlets Be particularly particular particular- ly careful in dealing with mall mail mallor mailor or door to distributors Read Head and question mail mall advertising advertis ing which doesn't come from reliable firms of your ity fly 3 When In doubt ask your doctor your local public health officer or nurse a professional nutritionist or an agricultural extension hame name economist or write the Director of ot your State Department of Health 4 If U you think you need special ape cial dal diet or oT supplements dont don't take taka the word of Aunt Emily the current seller best or Of a faddist tee see a doctor The law and the research an and d l professional opinion behind It and the official and private educatIonal educational ed ed- facilities which Interpret Inter Inlet pret It Is your best protection I It works for you all aU the time Among others th the law protected protect ed you Ou against 1 The promoter of VIT Vrr-UA- Vrr RA- RA TOX TOY He tic made false faIse claims in labeling one product containing alfalfa ground round bones and ceredi juices for fot another containing lecithin garlic and wheat germ germand germand germand and another of volcanic ashes and amt water The promoter was fined and jailed 2 A Company which sold soM house to house for 20 a monthly month ly treatment of vitamins and I minerals with a n secret base of alfalfa watercress and parsley parsley parsley pars pars- I ley claimed to me effective against ulcers arthritis strokes high blood pressure varicose veins migraine headaches asthma asthma ma prostate trouble rheumatism rheumatism Bueger disease diabetes cancer multiple sclerosis nervousness nervousness nerv nerve malaria and heart trouble The defendants were convicted The legal guardians of your health catch up with one illicit product today and andare andare andare are on the trail trall of others to to- to morrow V. Eternal Vigilance is the price of Freedom and it is also the price of r. r good od health Thanks to your Departments Departments' of Health and associated research and regulatory reg reg- agencies we dont don't have to worry werry very much about the i ingredients which go into modem modern mod mod-I em ern commercial foods the main thing is to get a balanced diet which provides all the nu nutrients nutrients nu- nu nu-I nu and vitamins most people people peo pea pe need L Let t the health vigilantes vigilantes 1 worry about the flavors preservatives and additives that under legal controls helps make our food the safest and best ever |