259 



- 15 



In 1955, tli« FTC banned the n»st outright and egregious health claims. 

 The U.S. Public Health Service first became "officially engaged in an 

 appraisal of the available data on smoking and health in June 1956, when, 

 under the instigation of the surgeon general, a scientific Study Group on 

 the subject was established Jointly by the National Cancer Institute, the 

 National Heart Institute, the American Cancer Society and the American 

 Heart Association. After appraising 16 independent studies carried on in 

 five countries over a period of 18 years, this group conclu(;..d tf.^A '<:.,<.. a 

 is a causal relationship between excursive smoking of cigt^rettes rj Icig 

 cancer." ^^ 



The causative relationship between smoking and lung cancer was recognized 

 by Surgeon General Leroy E. Burney in a statement issued on July 12, 

 1957. In 1959, an article published In the November 28 Journal of the 

 American Medical Association , entitled "Smoking and Lung Cancer -- A 

 Statement of the Public Health Service," said the Public Health Service 

 believed that: 



"The weight of evidence at present implicates smoking as the 

 principal factor in the increased incidence of lung cancer," and 

 that "cigarette smoking particularly 1$ associated with an increased 

 chance of developing lung cancer." ■** 



Early In 1962, the Co«1ttee of the Royal College of Physicians issued a 

 report concluding that: 



"Cigarette smoking is a cause of lung cancer and bronchitis, and 

 probably contributes to the development of coronary heart disease 

 and various other less common diseases. It delays healing of 

 gastric and duodenal ulcers." " 



