Part: 12         Session: 145678910111213141516171819202122         Page 369370371372373374375376377378379380381382383384385386387 of 999

aspects of stroke. This means that we really have to try for an independent stroke bill this year, because unless we do this we'll never get enough money and enough attention on the third major cause of death in this country.

Why is stroke not considered of such importance?

Well, because there are very few neurologists in the whole nation, not more than 2000, maybe not that many. I doubt there are that many. Someone told me there were 2000 but I doubt there are, and the re's been no voluntary agency for stroke, and people have considered it the will of God and there's nothing you can do about it. Well, it's just as untrue about stroke, probably more untrue, than about most forms of cancer. The truth is that treating hypertension, you can prevent a large number of strokes and a large number of heart attacks. But that's another story.

At any rate, I was not successful with Rogers, although (Harley) Staggers promised me he would see something was done about stroke and Staggers is the chairman of the full committee. Rogers is so determined and so easily influenced by doctors rather than laymen. He hasn't learned yet that on balance, I have more savvy than most doctors, any doctor that he knows of.

He's been dealing with you now for two or three years.

Only one year, a little less. He can't believe that anybody has had so much experience as I've had, you know. He hasn't had that much experience, and of course the doctors, they're all men and they