Report On Meeting Of Scientific Advisory Board, New York, N.Y., May 10-11, 1958
Date: 1958-05-13
Named Person
Comroe
Jacobson
Kotin
Cattel
Tobacco Industry Research Foundation
Scientific Advisory Board
Tirc
Little
Mcgrady
Cameron
Reed-C
Davies
Acs
Lynch
Bentley
Felton
Medical Research Council
Wilson
Reinhoff
Rhoads-Cp
Doll
Cuzin
Peacock
Waller
Wynder
Hueper
Farber-S
Hrh
Fisher
Connors
Brozek
Mcarthur
Thomas
Haag
Larson
Grossman-Mt
Dingman-Jf
Sunderman-Fw
Wells-Re-Jr
Cattell-Rb
Gershbein-Ll
Pace-Dm
Cooper-P
Armstrong-Bw
Goldman-L
Byerrum-Ru
Segal-Ms
Harris-Id
Bowery-Tg
Raabs-Rl
Thomas-Cb
Bonner-J
Mccants-Cb
Wenzl-Dg
Rigdon-Rh
Leuchtenberger-C
Richards-V
Kosak-Ai
Eckstein-Jw
Litigation
10004026
Type
Minutes/Meeting Notes
Meeting Material
Request
41
Date Loaded
23 Nov 1998
Attachment
60365819
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5/13/58
REPORT ON MEETING OF SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
NEW YORK, N.Y.
MAY 10-11, 1958
The morning of the 10th was devoted exclusively to a discussion of plans, policy, administration., etc. The problem of clarifying the relation of SAB to TIRC is of concern to several members, especially Comroe, Jacobson, Kotin and Cattell.
Note: Comroe has missed the last three meetings.
The question was asked whether the Board should confine its activity to the allocation of funds, or does it wish also to advance results of research supported by TIRC and point up its implication. The question of term of office was discussed. Kotin, Jacobson and especially Cattell felt that there should be a redefinition of the duties and activities of the SAD, A committee consisting of Reimann, Cattell and Jacobson was appointed and met after the p.m. session. The subject was further discussed on Saturday, p.m. The committee will make recommendations and present them at the next meeting of the Board, Among subjects discussed (Cattell) was renaming the TIRC, and calling it Tobacco Industry Research Foundation.
Note: There may be legal difficulties and, furthermore, the TIRC might object.
The discussion quickly led to the March-April, 1958, issue of CA and the attack upon the integrity of Dr. little and, by inference, the entire Board. There was speculation as to who had written the piece on delaying action, McGrady, Cameron, or Clif Reed. Davies was dismissed as a possible author. It was noted that Cameron at one time had stopped a resolution against tobacco, but that more recently he had appeared at one of the meetings armed with resolutions.
There was general resentment against the ACS. Jacobson remarked that he smoked 2 to 21 packs of cigarettes a day plus a pipe. It might shorten his life 7 months - so what? When he read this issue of CA, be went out and got roaring drunk, which shortened his life a whole year. "For the first time" he said, "he had publicly been called a liar". Dr. Lynch is not excitable but be said that after he had cooled off, he intended to write Stoner a long letter and on each page forbid its publication by ACS. If they did release it, he will sue them. This incident has done much to unify the Scientific Advisory Board.
Bentley, Felton and Reid joined the Board at luncheon.
Jacobson asked Bentley point blank if he accepted the conclusions of the MRC (Medical Research Council). After long hesitation, he said no. Jacobson said he was glad to bear that. He, personally, did not think there was any relation between smoking and lung cancer, but if this hypothesis were generally accepted and it was felt that a case had been proved against tobacco, then he had things to do other than serve on the SAB.
SAB Meeting May 10-11, 1958 -2-
During the course of the discussion, it was noted that ACS had been invited to send representatives to the BAR meetings. Dr. Wilson remarked that they did not want any of their "paid agents", but scientists. The ACS seemed not to want to send an objective scientist to the meeting and the SAB would have no other kind.
Dr. Rienhoff remarked that the kind of publicity indulged in by the ACS was doing a great deal. of harm and resulting in a lot of useless surgery.
Paul Kotin reported on the International Cancer Congress to be held in London in July. He is a member of a subcommittee, of which C.P. Rhoads is chairman. This includes Doll, Cuzin, Peacock, Waller, Wynder and others, most of whom oppose the use of tobacco, Rhoads has tent to the committee members a copy of a resolution condemning tobacco. Kotin dissented from it, and it is known that Hueper takes a similar view. The rest of the committee will undoubtedly support its
Kotin had an appointment with Rhoads. He discussed it with him. Rhoads said that he, personally, had no interest in the resolution. If it should result in a minority report, be would prefer that no resolution be proposed for action of the full Congress. Kotin will record his views and perhaps propose alternate resolutions which he will send to Rhoads in the near future.
The subject of co-sponsoring a program of education for the benefit of practicing physicians, which is conducted annually by Sydney Farber of California, was discussed. The next symposium will be on the effect of environmental conditions. This was left open.
Saturday, May 10 p.m.
Subcommittees of the SAB reported on progress with respect to different areas of research supported by TIRC.
1. Gastrointestinal - Jacobson. For the most part, results have been negative.
2. Chemistry and biochemistry of tobacco and smoke. H.R.H. was asked to make recommendations on future action in this field.
3. Pathological - anatomical - Reimann. Study of elasticity of respiratory tissue walls is of interest. Dr. Wilson remarked on the wide disagreement on reading of slides by pathologists. Fisher is severe, Connors medium and Weller lenient. Doubt was expressed that there is a real difference between lung tissue of smokers and non-smokers.
4. Direct application of tobacco derivatives to tissue, Kotin. Discussed each project at length; will render a summary report.
SAB Meeting May 10-11, 1958 -3-
5. Tissue culture - Little. Disscussion (sic) brief.
6. Inhalation - pulmonary physiology and disease. Reinhoff said it is silly' to relate emphysema to cigarette smoking. Others noted that a relation id very generally accepted.
7. Cardiovascular - Cattell. Twenty-two of seventy-four grants are in this field. Cattell summarized thorn and will submit a written report.
8. Psychological - physiological. Dr. Wilson. Brozek is a physiologist with a mania for formal statistics. It is hard to know what he has found.
Heath is promising. McArthur is a theologian. His reports contain more arguments than facts. Thomas is getting some useful psychological data out of study. Dr. Wilson said Rorschach tests are worthless in statistics. He feels that some small studies which could be duplicated would be very useful. Unfortunately, the grantee always smells money, then blows his project up beyond its limitations and it ceases to mean anything. He suggests we keep in touch with similar studies in the U.K.
9. Report on fellowships. It was suggested. that the SAB consider increasing fellowships from $600.00 to $800.00 per year.
Dr. Cattell paid a tribute to the Haag-Larson Bibliography.
138R2 - Morton T. Grossman - approved, terminal.
169A - Joseph F. Dingman - denied.
175A - F. William Sunderman - H.R.H. to bring data on trace metals.
188 - Roe E. Wells, Jr. - deferred.
192 - Raymond B. Cattell - rejected.
193 - Leon Lee Gershbein - denied.
194 - Donald H. Pace - hold for conference
200 - Phillip Cooper - hold for conference
SAB Meeting May 10-11, 1958 -4-
195 - Bruce W. Armstrong - denied.
196 - Leon Goldman - denied,
197 - Richard U. Byerrum - approved, subject to qualification of term.
198 - Maurice S. Sega]. - approved.
Note: There will be a conference on emphysema in Denver in June.
199 - Irving D. Harris- denied.
Connors - will be invited to send application.
201 - T. 0. Bowery - deferred (H.R.H., Dr. Hockett) -
202 - R. L. Raabs - deterred (H.R.H., Dr. Hockett)
203 - Caroline Bedeli Thomas - approved
126R2 - James Bonner - 3rd year approved, terminal.
152R1- Charles B. McCants - approved 1 year.
155R1 - Duane G. Wenzl - approved, terminal.
157RI (handwritten over 175RK) - R. H. Rigdon - approved.
1581R1- Cecilia Leuchtenberger - approved.
158R1 - T.G. Bowery - approved 1 year (H.R.H. and Dr. Hockett)
Victor Richards - 2nd year approved, terminal.
SAB Meeting May 10-11, 1958 -5-
141R1- Alvin I. Kosak - approved, terminal.
150R1- Join W. Ecketein - GOOD - approved.