Subject: Newspaper Articles.

A one-sentence item from 50 years ago in yesterday's "Today in History" section piqued further curiousity: "The state commander of the American Cancer Society told teh Toms River Kiwanis Club that Ocean County had the highest rate of cancer among New Jersey's 21 counties." Further research led to a story that appeared in the New Jersey Courier's April 5, 1946 edition at the top of the front page. The high prevalence of cancer in Ocean County - highest in hte state on a population basis - was outlined ot the Kiwanians by Mrs. A. Haines Lippincott, the state commander. In response, nurse Jessie E. West, county commander of the American Cancer Society, noted that 1945 was the first full year in which cancer control work functioned in the county. She said 23 new cases of cancer had been added to the 14 treated in 1944, 12 of which were incurable. The county's 1946 program, which needed $5,000 in funding called for an intensive campaign of education in prevention and early diagnosis, X-rays of patients and physical examinations. In the newspaper report, Mrs. Lippincott concluded: "Cancer is not contagious; it has been proven to be hereditary and fear and ignorance are its greatest assets."