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Rather than figuring out how to destroy prostate cancer by surgery or radiation, medical research should concentrate on what causes it. Perhaps a higher incidence of such cancer occurs in men who have had a vasectomy or been exposed to certain pollutants in the environment. If we eliminate the source of the problem, men won't have to be damaged by the treatment. MICHEL CZEHATOWSKI Redding, California Via E-mail
CORRECTION Our Photo Gallery of men who have lost the battle with prostate cancer included a picture we identified as "Sen. Spark Matsunaga." Instead, the person pictured is Nobuo Matsunaga of Japan, a former ambassador to the U.S. He is alive and well and serving as advisor to Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs. TIME regrets the error.
CAN COWS KILL YOU?
So the finger is pointed squarely at Britain. We've got all the mad cows [WORLD, April 1]. But is this the whole story? Most countries in Europe have admitted to a few cases of the human disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob, which could be related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or the mad-cow sickness. And perhaps there are many more cases than they care to admit to. Other countries blame Britain as the source of infection. Very easy. But it seems strange that the BSE disease is restricted to these small islands. And what of the cattle food made from scrapie-infected sheep brains, which may have been the source of the infection? What of the other animals in the human food chain? And is there no risk of cross-infection to humans from lambs, pigs and the like? Is this a case of simple geographic isolation--or is it a Europe-wide cover-up? PHIL KEMP Lindford, England Via E-mail
At last a logical explanation for the erratic and illogical behavior of the young royals. The poor things have contracted mad-cow disease--probably from their steak-and-kidney pie. DONNA KRICORISSIAN Ottawa
Yes, cattle are mammals, but they are also ruminants. Therefore, it's insane, as well as unethical, to give them "protein additives" consisting of related animals. Mad-cow disease is a tragedy, but it is also a warning signal. I hope that what's happened will broaden the public's awareness of other questionable practices, such as feeding our domestic animals hormones and antibiotics. JORGEN STIERNBORG Nassjo, Sweden
Let the crazy-cow epidemic and its dreadful consequences put us on guard against all high-tech, quick-fattening livestock-management schemes. Animals should be given room enough to move about and should be fed on what nature designed for them. Crowding and feeding them junk create stress and produce inferior and, as it turns out, dangerous meats. In Uruguay our cattle fatten on natural and improved pastures and get no hormones. With plenty of room to move in, the animals are healthy and free of stress and strange ailments. Result: our meats are succulent, tender and have a low cholesterol content. WILLIAM TRIEST San Carlos, Uruguay