Dr. Edgar Hull was back in New Orleans Tuesday eager to find answers to some of the medical questions which cropped up during his four months stay in Formosa.
For instance:
Why is there such a high incidence of sclerosis of the liver in a country where there is practically no heavy drinking?
Why does such a large proportion of Chinese women develop cancer of the lungs?
Could a low-fat diet have anything to do with the low incidence of coronary disease?
The genial associate dean of the Louisiana State university went over to Formosa to help the doctors there. But if he can get some worthwhile answers to these questions, the trip he believes will prove mutually helpful.
LIFE SPAN INCREASED
The government of Formosa asked the international co-operation administration to send them a consultant in internal medicine. The ICA sent Dr. Hull.
During his four months there, the New Orleans physician helped in the establishment of the new Kaohsiung Medical college. He also lectured and staged demonstrations in the National Taiwan university medical school and the National Defense Medical Center, which is a military medical school. He held consultations with doctors and he told them about American medical tech-: niques.
•'AH in all, I found health| conditions pretty good,," said the; physician, who was accompan-i ied to Formosa, or Taiwan, byj Mrs. Hull. "The life span hadj increased from 33 years to 57 years. They've almost completely conquered malaria. Venereal disease has been largely controlled and tuberculosis is getting under control."
Dr. Hull said hardly anyone has heart trouble on Taiwan. He said this may be due to the diet of the people, a diet low in fats, low in proteins, but high in carbohydrates.
"Another interesting thing is the high incidence of sclerosis of the liver," added the physician. "Yet most of the people are nondrinkers and you usually see sclerosis of the liver
among heavy drinkers. Also
cancer of the liver is very common."
Dr. Hull said there is a high ncidence of cancer of the nose and throat. He said he doesn't mow the answer to this but ;hat it may be racial, since Chinese people tend to have more cancer of the nose and throat. The physician said that on Formosa, cancer of the ungs was very common among women.
"Again, I do not know the answer," he said. "Certainly there are not many heavy smokers over there. They just cannot afford the price of cigarettes."
Or. Hull said gallstones are| different on Formosa. He said,j "In the States, gallstones form in the gall bladder, but over there they form in the liver." The physician said he believes someone should do some research along these lines and that he is going to try to interest the National Cancer Institute. photo: Dr Hull
