Dr. Richard Paddison, chief of I the division of neurology at Louisiana State university school of medicine, has been named to a | two-year position on the medical advisory board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The appointment was announced Sunday at the Society's southern regional conference at the Mon-teleone hotel.
The advisory board is composed of 40 neurologists and specialists from all parts of the nation.
Dr. Thomas Willmon, medical and research director of the society, delivered the main address at Sunday's meeting, outlining current multiple sclerosis research projects.
44 SEPARATE STUDIES
Work is now being done on 44 separate studies of MS at medical centers in 15 countries, he said. Two recent discoveries may lead to finding a cure for the crippling disease.
In South Africa, a doctor recently reported finding multiple sclerosis there only in native white Europeans and white South Africans who had lived in Europe several years. He found no cases of the disease among colored people, Dr. Willmon said.
The research director also discussed the discovery that chilling a patient and lowering his body temperature sometimes relieves MS symptoms,
VITAL INFORMATION
Dr. Willmon said efforts to implant the disease in laboratory animals have been unsuccessful so far. He noted, however, that studies of animals infected with allergic encephalo-myelitis, a neurological disease with MS-like symptoms, may reveal vital information on the nature of MS.
James S. Stone, chief social worker at the Louisiana Evaluation Center here, also addressed the delegates Sunday, speaking on the role of the social worker in caring for multiple sclerosis victims.
The conference will hold its final meetings Monday, with discussion being centered on management of local MS society chapters.
