Medicine: Physiologist Up

• Share

Bold-eyed guards stood alert at every entrance door of Manhattan's Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research one brisk afternoon last week. Indoors more bold-eyed guards followed John D. Rockefeller Jr. as he rambled through corridors and rooms by the side of a trim, shy, youngish man who that day was being installed as director of the Institute.

Physiologist Herbert Spencer Gasser was awed by the great science factory which Mr. Rockefeller financed, which Dr. Simon Flexner created 33 years ago and now relinquished to become director emeritus. Dr. Gasser was fascinated by the scientific prima donnas of the Institute from whom he was expected to produce harmony. And Dr. Gasser was flabbergasted by the newspapermen and one hardbitten, red-headed woman who breathed cigaret smoke at him. Mr. Rockefeller, who showed no discomfort from the smoke, had to help Dr. Gasser out with the interview.

The main question was the future direction of the Rockefeller Institute's research program. Under Pathologist Flexner its chief emphasis has been on what causes disease (pathology). Under Physiologist Gasser it appeared likely that the spotlight would shift to how the body works (physiology). Mr. Rockefeller led off the interview with: ''I am wondering why we started with an expert in pathology, and now we have one in physiology."

Dr. Gasser: It is because we have to give more attention to the functions of the body. It is also because, in the last 50 years in the field of conquest of infectious diseases, we have been very successful. . . . When one looks at the diseases that are decreasing and those that are increasing, one finds that those that are lethal because of deterioration of organs are increasing. Cancer, for example, is going up.

Mr. Rockefeller: But isn't it true, Dr. Gasser, that increase is a rate based upon, shall we say, increase in population—I am. now referring to cancer—and increase in longevity? Dr. Gasser: But that increase is due in a large measure to the great strides that have been made in pathology, which is represented in the greater preservation of life.

Mr. Rockefeller: Then it really depends which you prefer—to die early or live for cancer.