Page:The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology-ItsFirstCentury.djvu/330

CARRYING ON IN THE "OLD RED BRICK" the production of original motion pictures should be discontinued as soon as each of the Armed Forces had opportunity to provide for such services on its own account. The Committee felt, also, that "no useful end is served by requiring all pictures and films be sent to the AFIP" but did believe that "a central file of pictures and films of general educational value should be maintained at the AFIP." Accordingly, it recommended that the requirement of sending in all pictures and films should be limited to those of "general educational value." In its closing remarks, the Cooney Committee recognized the Institute as a "unique institution" for consultation in pathology and for the investigation of disease, filling a "need both of military and civilian medicine." Because of the "better approach to medical care" inherent in its educational facilities and methods, the Committee said, "the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology has been called 'the Postgraduate School of Pathology' for the United States and even for the world." 8

Maj. Gen. Silas B. Hays, the Deputy Surgeon General, concurred in the recommendations of the Cooney Committee, and agreed that the functions and level of operations set forth in the report were desirable. In the light of recent trends toward curtailment rather than expansion, however, he asked the advice of the Committee on the "functions to be performed and the level of operation" which should be sought under each of four assumptions— a continuation of support at the current level, and reductions of 10, 20, or 30 percent under that level.

The Committee accordingly reconvened and, on 26 March 1953, answered the general's inquiry. The "practice of pathology," it said, constituted more than 70 percent of the activities of the Institute and curtailment of this service would interfere with the development of the Institute as the central laboratory for the military services. Furthermore, the Committee said such portions of this work as were not done by the Institute would of necessity have to be done elsewhere by each of the Armed Forces, "or else the patient would suffer."

In the light of these considerations, and the further fact that the Institute was organized "to provide at the least cost possible a maximum of pathology," the Committee felt that this service "must be kept intact" and that whatever cuts might have to be made should be in the activities of the Institute which "might be considered as ancillary." Even if available funds should remain at the current 1953 level, the Committee said to "keep up with the normal increase of the pathology workload, there would have to be substantial curtailment of