Source: Doylestown Daily Intelligencer: April 15, 1953
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New Drug Co-Founder Opens Cancer Drive

One of America's brilliant young scientists who is director of the Research Laboratories at National Agricultural College told men and women attending the first report luncheon of the Bucks County Cancer Crusade yesterday at the Fountain House that "great progress is being made in cancer research although the fight against the dreaded disease is a tremendous problem."

The luncheon speaker was Dr. Albert Schatz, co-discoverer of streptomycin, who recently became affiliated with the faculty of the college. He was introduced by James Work, president of the college and director of the Bucks county crusade committee.

Outlines Research

Dr. Schatz outlined the research being done to combat cancer and told of the experimental processes being carried on now at the National Agricultural College, and of the experiments that will be used on animals. The college some time in the future hopes to be able to carry out experiments on a number of humans afflicted with cancer.

Crusade workers attending the report luncheon that was presided over by Dr. E. C. Lauderislager, of Doylestown, president of the Bucks County Unit, American Cancer Society, prepared to start the actual crusade for funds in the county during the next two weeks. It is hoped the $14,200 quota will be over-subscribed.

Early reports received yesterday, from just a few districts reporting showed a total of funds on hand amounting to $2,217.75, including $70 from the Newtown area; $215 from the Quakertown area, $67 from Riegelsville, and $1,865.75 on hand from previous reports. Districts just starting the 1953 crusade include Morrisville-Bristol, Doylestown, Perkasie-Sellersville, Dublin, Yardley, Langhorne, Warrington-Chalfont, Rushland- Richboro-Ivyland, New Hope-Buckingham, Southampton, Hulmeville, Plumsteadville, Point Pleasant, Fairless Hills and Levittown.

Not Chest Member

Announcement was definitely made at yesterday's luncheon by Director Work that the Bucks County crusade was not a member of the Bucks County Community Chest in 1952. This announcement was made so that crusade volunteers making solicitations will be able to explain that cancer crusade contributions are to be made directly to the crusade leaders.

During the report luncheon, 9-year-old Abbie Virginia Elwell, of Newtown, presented a check to Director Work and Dr. Laudenslager for $70 that was raised by the young folks of Newtown last Saturday at a rummage sale. Little Abbie Elwell was assisted in the rummage sale plans by Lee Allen Schondeimeyer, of Newtown, 8 years old.

Krown As Crusade

Director Work emphasized the fact that even though the workers are actually engaged in a campaign to raise the $14,200 quota for 1953, the annual drive is known as a crusade rather than a campaign. This is because much information is given out by the workers and leaders at all homes and plants visited even though there may be no contributions forthcoming this year.

"The crusade idea is one reason we did not enter the Community Chest project this year," Director Work explained.

The guest speaker, Dr. Schatz exhibited a test tube containing urethene, a white powder made of alcohol and ammonia, a product that will cause cancer in certain animals. The speaker said however that neither alcohol or ammonia causes cancer so that the researchers are now busily engaged in finding the cause why the combined product known as urethene causes the dreaded disease. Urethene can be used however, for the treatment of leukemia, a certain type of cancer, Dr. Schatz explained.

To Receive Funds

Work said the 1953 cancer crusade in Bucks county will receive the proceeds of a benefit concert to be given in the auditorium of the Doylestown elementary school, Court and Broad sts., on Thursday night; April 30, at 8:15 by the combined glee clubs of the National Agricultural College and the School of Horticulture for Women, at Ambler. The tickets are being sold throughout Bucks county for fifty cents apiece.

"Because of the fact that every cent contributed for the Bucks county cancer crusade will be expended in the county, we are hoping that the rental fee for the school auditorium for the April 30 Concert will be a contribution," Director Work commented before adjourning the report luncheon.

The services of both colleges giving the concert are being entirely donated, he explained, with participants even paying their own transportation to Doylestown.