Greetings again All. Senator Lorna Milne is still busy. The following excerpt from Hansard for the Senate of 11 May 2000. Gordon ------------------------------- Census Records Petitions Hon. Lorna Milne: Honourable senators, I have the honour to present six petitions signed by 159 Canadians requestion that the government allow the release to the public, after a reasonable period of time, all census reports starting with the 1906 census.

Greetings All. FYI the following excerpt from Hansard of the House of Commons for Thursday 11 May 2000. This excerpt refers to the Canada wide petition we have been collecting for the past year. Gordon ---------------------------------------------------- PETITIONS Post 1901 Census Mr. Murray Calder (Dufferin - Peel - Wellington - Grey, Lib): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition not signed by 100 Canadians, not signed by 3,000 Canadians, but signed by 6,000 Canadians. The petititioners call for the release of the Post-1901 census records after a reasonable period of time has passed. The Census records are a tremendous resource for more than 7.5 million citizens who are currently engaged in family research. The post-1901 Census records contain facts about the everyday lives of average Canadians. The tell about Canada's collective past, present and future. These records are not only the reference point for descendants of many immigrants wishing to trace their heritage, they are also an essential tool for genealogists everywhere. Therefore, the petitioners ask parliament to amend the Statistics Act to allow for the public release of the Post-1901 Census records.

Copied from The Halifax Herald, May 11, 2000: Experimental treatment attacks leukemia like 'heat-seeking missiles' By Clare Mellor / Health Reporter Last Wednesday, Dwight MacDonald learned he had only weeks to live. But the next day, leukemic cells that had invaded more than 90 per cent of his blood began disappearing because of an experimental cancer drug called Hum195. The 53-year-old Head of St. Margarets Bay resident is the first acute myeloid leukemia patient in Atlantic Canada - perhaps the first in Canada - to try the drug, which destroys leukemic cells while leaving healthy ones alone. "I started the first four-hour infusion of the drug last Thursday,and within 24 hours later (the leukemic cells) had dropped by 50 per cent," he said Wednesday from his bed at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. "I was amazed and encouraged." The cancer cells in his blood have now diminished by more than 75 per cent; doctors hope the drug will soon attack cancer cells in his bone marrow, where they are manufactured. "I was glad I was getting the opportunity to try the drug, but I didn't expect any great results from it," said Mr. MacDonald, who has had four failed courses of chemotherapy in the past eight months. He said he and his wife, Marilyn Purdy, had given up hope. "We were down pretty low. We knew the end was very, very close." So far, the drug has been used on only about 30 patients worldwide. Luckily, Theradex, the New Jersey company that makes the drug, recently selected the QEII to be part of its clinical trials, said Dr. Donna Forrest, a hematologist at the hospital. "We didn't have anything further to offer Dwight and, frankly,he would have died of his disease if this would have been six months ago," she said. The drug is called a monoclonal antibody which, when injected into the body, recognizes antigens, or cell markers that are specific to acute myeloid leukemia cells. "They act like heat-seeking missiles. These antibodies will only bind or stick to the cells where they see that antigen ... then the (cancer cells) are eliminated by the body's own immune system," Dr. Forrest said. "The liver and the spleen of the patient gobble up those antibody-coated cancer cells." Mr. MacDonald received four courses of the drug over four days. The therapy will be repeated at two-week intervals. "It's amazing. He's cleared out a huge amount of the leukemic cells," Dr. Forrest said. Tests will be done in about 30 days to see whether the drug is working in the marrow. Chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease 13 years ago left Mr. MacDonald susceptible to leukemia. Cancer will later develop in about three per cent of chemotherapy patients because the drugs damage healthy cells as well as cancerous ones, Dr. Forrest said "This drug (Hum195) is only attacking the cancer cells so it doesn't have effects on any other cells in the body. It's novel. It's quite remarkable," the doctor said. Mr. MacDonald, a grandfather, says he and his wife are daring to hope one more time. "We've been up and down like a roller-coaster the last eight months," he said. "Marilyn and I had a long talk Saturday night and decided to get our emotions back up there one more time. We have friends and family pushing for us so we said, 'Let's do our part.'" ============================= Many of the experimental drugs are working very well! NEVER GIVE UP HOPE! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com>

Copied from The Halifax Herald, May 11, 2000: Experimental treatment attacks leukemia like 'heat-seeking missiles' By Clare Mellor / Health Reporter Last Wednesday, Dwight MacDonald learned he had only weeks to live. But the next day, leukemic cells that had invaded more than 90 per cent of his blood began disappearing because of an experimental cancer drug called Hum195. The 53-year-old Head of St. Margarets Bay resident is the first acute myeloid leukemia patient in Atlantic Canada - perhaps the first in Canada - to try the drug, which destroys leukemic cells while leaving healthy ones alone. "I started the first four-hour infusion of the drug last Thursday, and within 24 hours later (the leukemic cells) had dropped by 50 per cent," he said Wednesday from his bed at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. "I was amazed and encouraged." The cancer cells in his blood have now diminished by more than 75 per cent; doctors hope the drug will soon attack cancer cells in his bone marrow, where they are manufactured. "I was glad I was getting the opportunity to try the drug, but I didn't expect any great results from it," said Mr. MacDonald, who has had four failed courses of chemotherapy in the past eight months. He said he and his wife, Marilyn Purdy, had given up hope. "We were down pretty low. We knew the end was very, very close." So far, the drug has been used on only about 30 patients worldwide. Luckily, Theradex, the New Jersey company that makes the drug, recently selected the QEII to be part of its clinical trials, said Dr. Donna Forrest, a hematologist at the hospital. "We didn't have anything further to offer Dwight and, frankly, he would have died of his disease if this would have been six months ago," she said. The drug is called a monoclonal antibody which, when injected into the body, recognizes antigens, or cell markers that are specific to acute myeloid leukemia cells. "They act like heat-seeking missiles. These antibodies will only bind or stick to the cells where they see that antigen ... then the (cancer cells) are eliminated by the body's own immune system," Dr. Forrest said. "The liver and the spleen of the patient gobble up those antibody-coated cancer cells." Mr. MacDonald received four courses of the drug over four days. The therapy will be repeated at two-week intervals. "It's amazing. He's cleared out a huge amount of the leukemic cells," Dr. Forrest said. Tests will be done in about 30 days to see whether the drug is working in the marrow. Chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease 13 years ago left Mr. MacDonald susceptible to leukemia. Cancer will later develop in about three per cent of chemotherapy patients because the drugs damage healthy cells as well as cancerous ones, Dr. Forrest said "This drug (Hum195) is only attacking the cancer cells so it doesn't have effects on any other cells in the body. It's novel. It's quite remarkable," the doctor said. Mr. MacDonald, a grandfather, says he and his wife are daring to hope one more time. "We've been up and down like a roller-coaster the last eight months," he said. "Marilyn and I had a long talk Saturday night and decided to get our emotions back up there one more time. We have friends and family pushing for us so we said, 'Let's do our part.'" ============================= Many of the experimental drugs are working very well! NEVER GIVE UP HOPE! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com>

Posted with permission of Helen Brenneman <bren@execulink.com> On Thursday May 18, 2000 from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be a Barnardo Home Children Reunion in Tillsonburg, Ontario. Five representatives from the Barnardo Home in England will be in attendance. If someone wants more information e-mail Dave Cooper at <dave.cooper2@sympatico.ca> ==================================== Also, if someone wishes to report happenings of the day on May 18 or other information, it will be most welcome. There have been a number of people searching for Home ancestors, and all information helps. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com>

Greetings All. This morning I received an email from Murray Calder's office that our major petition to the House of Commons was presented at about 11:00 Ontario Time. I am being sent a video clip and transcript of the presentation, however for those who are interested the government website Hansard will likely have it online by Friday. I have recently sent several files to Rick Roberts to update the Scoreboard and MP Correspondence Logs however the computer being used for the Post 1901 Census Project has been in trouble the past week. I also updated the page of links to past issues of my column. Further updates will be done on return of my trip in three weeks. Keep your postings coming in. I will be picking up my email regularly when away. Happy Hunting. Gordon

hi this from a list i'm on. it discusses usa censuses, the man interviewed is the husband of cyndi's list. i found it interesting that there is some contention in the usa regarding the release of census data..and mark had great rebuttals. roz Hi all - A rather stern picture of me appeared in the local newspaper this morning - May 11, 2000. If you visit the below URL before the next day's issue goes out, you should be able to see me and my great-great grandfather: http://www.tribnet.com/ It's a story on how genealogists use the census records of the past. Both of us look ideal for the wanted posters at the post office. One of the few benefits of Cyndi being out of town for a while is that I get to take the reporter's calls.

-----Original Message----- From: Gordon A. WATTS [SMTP:gordon_watts@telus.net] Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2000 6:18 AM To: CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [CCC-L] Fw: Congres de genealogie au Quebec FYI ----- Original Message ----- From: Jeannine Ouellet <jeannine.ouellet@sympatico.ca> To: Gordon A. WATTS <gordon_watts@telus.net> Cc: CANADA CENSUS CAMPAIGN LIST <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, 11 May, 2000 3:14 AM Subject: Congres de genealogie au Quebec here is a real rough translation for those with minimal french..which mine is too. i can sorta read it..but not write it. Bonjour a tous! hello all Vous etes invites a participer au congres de genealogie de la Federation you're invited to a congress/meeting of the federation of genealogists. quebecoise des societes de genealogie qui se tiendra les 2-3 et 4 juin 2000 the quebec society of genealogists is presenting it on on the 2,3 and 4th of june 2000. a Riviere-du-Loup, a 200 km a l'est de la ville de Quebec. place is Riviere du loup 200 km east of quebec city. Pour plus d'informations, consultez le site: http://www.icrdl.net/shgrdl/congres.htm for more information check out this site Au plaisir de vous accueillir a ce congres! it will be a pleasure to see you at the meeting. Jeannine Ouellet presidente de la Federation quebecoise des societes de genealogie jeannine OUELLET president of of the quebec federation of genealogical societies. now..if we could just get some one to write and post a general form letter so we could send it to french speaking mp's asking them to support the release of the censuses...)) roz

FYI ----- Original Message ----- From: Jeannine Ouellet <jeannine.ouellet@sympatico.ca> To: Gordon A. WATTS <gordon_watts@telus.net> Cc: CANADA CENSUS CAMPAIGN LIST <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, 11 May, 2000 3:14 AM Subject: Congrès de généalogie au Québec Bonjour à tous! Vous êtes invités à participer au congrès de généalogie de la Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie qui se tiendra les 2-3 et 4 juin 2000 à Rivière-du-Loup, à 200 km à l'est de la ville de Québec. Pour plus d'informations, consultez le site: http://www.icrdl.net/shgrdl/congres.htm Au plaisir de vous accueillir à ce congrès! Jeannine Ouellet présidente de la Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie

Greetings All. I will be leaving Friday afternoon on a trip of about three weeks duration, returning just after the first weekend of June. I will have my laptop with me and will be picking up my e-mail daily, or every other day. Hopefully, by the time I return we will be able to see the report of the Expert Panel on Access to Historic Census records. The next two Global Gazette columns have been turned in already. The first has the submission of Muriel Davidson and the second has Don Nisbet's submission. With some luck the next column after that will contain the recommendations of the Expert Panel. Happy Hunting. Gordon

GENETICALLY INHERITABLE DISEASES BREAST CANCER By Ricki-Ann Stevens My name is Ricki-Ann Stevens. I am an American Citizen with Canadian roots. I began to do my family history as a way to relieve stress and became addicted to it. Through access to Canadian records, particularly census records, I am able to trace my lineage further and further back. The census records provided me with a wonderful starting point from which I have gathered much information about my family's heritage and history. I have also uncovered information about medical causes of death of several blood relatives. It seems "CANCER" and/or "CANCER OF THE BREAST" are a lot closer to home than I ever thought. This information scared me, but prompted me, at the age of 32 to get my first mammogram, when under normal circumstances it isn't even suggested until after age 40. By age 40 it may have been too late. There were abnormalities in the mammogram. I now go for follow-ups every 3-6 months at my physician's request to track any changes, and keep ahead of the "abnormality". If I had never found my great great-grandmother's name, I would have never found the names of her family, or theirs, or the "abnormality". I am deeply grateful to access of such records as census information, and truly believe it may just save my life. Breast cancer does "RUN" in my family, there is some genetic link, and now I am aware. AWARENESS IS HALF THE BATTLE. Preventing access to such records may prevent others from the advanced warning that I received. THAT WOULD BE TRAGIC. Respectfully Ricki-Ann Stevens USA <M1s112@aol.com> - 22 - ========================================== To all:- Ricki-Ann's submission, on behalf of all cancer victims, is the last one to be posted -- many thanks!!! I agree many areas or doctors do not prescribe mammograms because of the health $$$$$ -- the cost is minimal -- many would gladly pay for these exams and KNOW the "yes" or "no". Once you have cancer, the dratted gene is still in the body, ready to pounce should your system become less than healthy -- or just to remind mortals that disease is really the controller. Ricki-Ann's letter is a WAKE-UP call to all women to get this test -- I know it is uncomfortable, but rewarding when the report is negative. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com>

A big reason why we want the 1911 Census, and particularly for Western Canada: In 1901 Alberta had a population of 73,022. In 1911 Alberta had 374,663; an increase of 413 percent. In 1901 BC had 178,657. In 1911 BC had 392,480; an increase of 120 percent. In 1901 Saskatchewan had 91,279 In 1911 Saskatchewan had 492,432; an increase of 439 percent. In 1901 Manitoba had 255,211. In 1911 Manitoba had 455,614; an increase of 78 percent. Although it is true that the names and boundaries of the prairie districts were changed, particularly for Alberta and Saskatchewan, the greatest influx of people was to the same areas. A total of the populations of all four provinces still shows a fantastic increase in those ten years. In the same ten year period, New Brunswick increased 6.27 %; Nova Scotia 7.13 %; Ontario 15.58 %; PEI minus 9.23 %; Quebec 21.46 %.

The following is part of a note written to Gordon Watts by the researcher who mentioned ALS in Genetically Inherited Diseases. Many thanks, Kim! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> ====================================== Most health problems are inherited to some degree & if detected in early stages treatment can be started. Some of the health conditions mentioned as running in family blood lines include: diabetes, stroke,cancer,heart disease, alzheimers, sickle cell anemia, obesity, and high blood pressure all of which have precautions that can be taken to help treat family members. Psychological disorders like depression, alcoholism and schizophrenia are known to run in families along with asthma, migraine headaches, allergies, arthritis and gastrointestinal upsets. Knowing if breast cancer runs in the family may lead a doctor to advise on early screening test at 35 or 40 instead of 50. Knowing that depression runs in the family and that they had responded well to certain medications helps the doctor determine what would be right for the patient in that case. One in five women will develop a thyroid disorder and half do not know it. Hypothyroidism is the most common of thyroid problems and can raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of Heart disease. The other side of thyroid problems is Hyperthyroidism, where the gland releases too much thyroid hormone and is caused by Graves disease. Women should ask to get a TSH assay whether she has symptoms or not along with the mammograms and pap smears. The U.S. Preventive services task force has not endorsed regular screening because of scarce health care dollars. They recommend screening for all older women (40) on a yearly basis, but 35 makes more sense economic and medically according to researchers at John Hopkins University who suggest the test could be piggybacked with a cholesterol test which should be taken every five years begining at 20. Thyroid disease runs in families and family medical histories can help spot this problem earlier before it gets to far along. Also if an immediate relative with an autoimmune condition, diabetes,pernicuous anemia or had rheumatoid arthritis these may also put you at risk for a thyroid problem. The problem can be treated with thyroid hormone drugs and save a lot of suffering in a lot of the lives of women and their families. A simple test can tell and yet you have to ASK to be tested by your doctor. James Mold, associate professor of Family Medicine of Oklahoma Health Science's Center claims in an article "Know Your Family's Medical History" that ran in the USA Today Magizine Jan. 1995 (v.123 p 8) that by "Knowing your family's genetic heritage you are way ahead of the game." Mr. Mold tells us "to go out of our way to track down information on our families back to our grandparents to learn of their illnesses and traits" that run in their family. Be sure to write this information down and talk it over with the family doctor which will help both work together on future care. He tells us not to be shy about asking for screening test and learning how to prevent and detect problems before they develop, then be sure to ask the doctor how to keep their children from developing the same problems later in life. By knowing that Diabetes runs in my husband's family for at least four generations gives me the knowledge to be aware of this to watch for symptoms in my own children. My husband's grandmother lost both of her legs to this disease and his brother has lost one of his feet due to diabetes so knowing that will help us watch for signs in our children to help prevent such things from happening to them in the future. It will help us to make better health choices in their lives in the future. We must seek out our family medical history when doing our family trees to be more aware of what diseases have affected our family blood lines and take steps toward our future medical treatments and work with our family doctors to make them aware of what might be in store for our family health problems. We must visit with our family that are still alive and find out what illiness they have had and what they know about the illness of our grandparents and their parents and write down this information to pass on to our children and on down to their children so they will have this knowledge to let their doctors know what illness run in our own blood lines. Knowing that info can help us be better informed and make better health choices like changing our diet habits, and getting more exercise to be a step closer in our family preventive care measures. ============================================== Thanks again for your note. I hope this information will be of some help to you & Muriel & I can be of some help in your quest to access historical records of all kinds. My mailing address is Kim Ralston Dresser, Rt. 3 Box 168, Hydro, Oklahoma, 73048 email; kim1@hintonet.net Good luck & Happy Trails on all your researching, Kim Ralston Dresser

The following is part of a note written to Gordon Watts by the researcher who mentioned ALS in Genetically Inherited Diseases. Many thanks, Kim! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> ====================================== Most health problems are inherited to some degree & if detected in early stages treatment can be started. Some of the health conditions mentioned as running in family blood lines include: diabetes, stroke, cancer, heart disease, alzheimers, sickle cell anemia, obesity, and high blood pressure all of which have precautions that can be taken to help treat family members. Psychological disorders like depression, alcoholism and schizophrenia are known to run in families along with asthma, migrine headaches, allergies, arthritis and gastrointestinal upsets. Knowing if breast cancer runs in the family may lead a doctor to advise on early screening test at 35 or 40 instead of 50. Knowing that depression runs in the family and that they had responded well to certain medications helps the doctor determine what would be right for the patient in that case. One in five women will develop a thyroid disorder and half do not know it. Hypothyroidism is the most common of thyroid problems and can raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of Heart disease. The other side of thyroid problems is Hyperthyroidism, where the gland releases too much thyroid hormone and is caused by Graves disease. Women should ask to get a TSH assay whether she has symptoms or not along with the mamograms and pap smears. The U.S. Preventive services task force has not endorsed regular screening because of scarce health care dollars. They recommend screening for all older women (40) on a yearly basis, but 35 makes more sense economic and medically according to researchers at John Hopkins University who suggest the test could be piggybacked with a cholesterol test which should be taken every five years begining at 20. Thyroid disease runs in families and family medical histories can help spot this problem earlier before it gets to far along. Also if an immediate relative with an autoimmune condition, diabetes, pernicuous anemia or had rheumatoid arthritis these may also put you at risk for a thyroid problem. The problem can be treated with thyroid hormone drugs and save a lot of suffering in a lot of the lives of women and their families. A simple test can tell and yet you have to ASK to be tested by your doctor. James Mold, associate professor of Family Medicine of Oklahoma Health Science's Center claims in an article "Know Your Family's Medical History" that ran in the USA Today Magizine Jan. 1995 (v.123 p 8) that by "Knowing your family's genetic heritage you are way ahead of the game." Mr. Mold tells us "to go out of our way to track down information on our families back to our grandparents to learn of their illnesses and traits" that run in their family. Be sure to write this information down and talk it over with the family doctor which will help both work together on future care. He tells us not to be shy about asking for screening test and learning how to prevent and detect problems before they develop, then be sure to ask the doctor how to keep their children from developing the same problems later in life. By knowing that Diabetes runs in my husband's family for at least four generations gives me the knowledge to be aware of this to watch for symptoms in my own children. My husband's grandmother lost both of her legs to this disease and his brother has lost one of his feet due to diabetes so knowing that will help us watch for signs in our children to help prevent such things from happening to them in the future. It will help us to make better health choices in their lives in the future. We must seek out our family medical history when doing our family trees to be more aware of what diseases have affected our family blood lines and take steps toward our future medical treatments and work with our family doctors to make them aware of what might be in store for our family health problems. We must visit with our family that are still alive and find out what illiness they have had and what they know about the illiness of our grandparents and their parents and write down this information to pass on to our children and on down to their children so they will have this knowledge to let their doctors know what illiness run in our own blood lines. Knowing that info can help us be better informed and make better health choices like changing our diet habits, and getting more exercise to be a step closer in our family preventive care measures. ============================================== Thanks again for your note. I hope this information will be of some help to you & Muriel & I can be of some help in your quest to access historical records of all kinds. My mailing address is Kim Ralston Dresser, Rt. 3 Box 168, Hydro, Oklahoma, 73048 email; kim1@hintonet.net Good luck & Happy Trails on all your researching, Kim Ralston Dresser

Hi Jim:- This is a great shocker to many!! I cannot imagine life without census AFTER 1901 -- but unless we all work together, that could happen. At present, there is Bill S-15 in the Senate by Senator Lorna Milne, plus Motions in House of Commons. Suggestion:- Subscribe to CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com There are many census memos and Gordon Watts is listowner of this list -- thus keeping the "census traffic" off other Rootsweb lists. They are patient with us but the CENSUS list is for anyone who wishes to learn, help, have their "two cents' worth" and there are NO flames and no census lookups. Check <http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html> There is a great deal there -- even some Pictou County genealogy. Click on THE MYTHS OF CENSUS by Gordon Watts - there was NO privacy law! You may print the above -- copyrighted material has been removed. Check <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census> Lots there!!! Of interest, the Scoreboard of our Members of Parliament. The Canadian Census Committee was formed last March, strictly internet, except for letters written to Members of Parliament. Petitions have been signed by both Canadian and Non-Canadian. Should you have any more questions, do not hesitate to contact me. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> PaddlnGuy@aol.com wrote: > I was exploring the Pictou City website and clicked on their census url. At > the bottom the following note appeared after the 1901 census... > > "The last year for which census data will be available as federal legislation > prevents data collected from being made public in perpetuity." > > Is this true, literally? Amazing....are other Federal/Provincial/Local > records headed for the same obivion? I know that the misuse of things such > as Birth and baptismal records has led to the closure of those records in > some US states.... > > Jim

GENETICALLY INHERITED DISEASES Dear Muriel:- Thank you Muriel for your note. It was very touching to me & very kind of you to write & tell me you enjoyed the posting on the Wells family mailing list. I'm glad it was forwarded on to you. My father died 10 years go from ALS, I believe is a form of Multiple Sclerosis & it was really hard to see him go to such a terrible diseases in such a short time & knowing there was nothing I could do to stop it. Sometimes we just don't understand why God lets these terrible things happen to such good people. After some time passed I started searching my family history to learn about my ancestors & also to try to find out info on the causes of deaths of not only his family but my mothers too. I wanted to have another child but did not want to pass on a bad gene to another generation. I was told by my family doctor there was no way of knowing if I was a carrier back then, if I had a son then the chances might be higher. I had a daughter but the thought never goes away. She will never know the love & kindness of her grandfather but she is my sunshine. My dad would have loved the treasure hunt I have been on looking for info on his Ralston family, not just for the medical info but for the family history & tracing them back in time to learn more about their lives & the times they lived in. I don't find any such illness in his line but it was not know by that name many generations ago. I didn't share this story with the mailing list- my father wasn't from the Wells family but I couldn't help post the note to let others know the importance of learning their family medical history if not for themselves then to do it for the sake of their children. My father in-law had diabetes & he has passed away a few years ago. His mother lost both her legs from it & now my Brother in-law found out he also had it a year ago & has lost a foot due to it. I have had my husband checked & my oldest daughter checked & will always keep that in mind in the future to watch for the signs so we can catch it early. I just hope others will be aware of learning more about their medical history & discuss it with their family doctors. The more we learn about our medical history the better we can help the doctors to treat our families. Thanks again for your note & Happy Trails in all your researching in 2000. Kim Oklahoma - 19 - --------------------------- AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS) Internet Information from ALS Society of Canada <alscanada@als.ca> ALS is a rapidly progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease. It attacks the motor neurons responsible for transmitting electrical impulses from the brain to the voluntary muscles throughout the body. When these muscles fail to receive messages, they eventually lose strength, atrophy and die. There is no known treatment. Anyone can get ALS. Over 3,000 Canadians currently have the disease. Two to three Canadians die every day of ALS. Why is it known as LOU GEHRIG's Disease? LOU GEHRIG, a famous baseball player in the U.S. during the 1930's, became afflicted with ALS. He was known as baseball's "Ironman". Strength, agility, excellent health - Lou Gehrig had everything it took to become a baseball legend. But Lou Gehrig had something else. At the peak of his career, he was diagnosed as having Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He died at the age of 38. When was ALS first discovered? ALS was first described in 1869 by Jean-Martin Charcot, a French neurologist. Since that time a number of theories about the cause of ALS have been developed. Some scientists believe it is possible that ALS is caused by a slow-acting or latent "virus". If it is caused by an organism, there is absolutely no fear that it is contagious. There is no increased incidence among medical personnel who deal with ALS patients. Work has also been done on the possible role of the thyroid gland and trauma. What causes ALS? The cause is not yet known although several theories are now being researched. At present neither a cure for ALS nor a means of prevention is known. In 1993, scientists announced in a paper published in the British journal "Nature" that they had isolated the gene associated with about 20% of the cases of the inherited form of the disease. While only 10% of ALS patients have this genetic predisposition there is no evidence of a clinical difference between the familial and the sporadic forms of the illness. What about environmental causes? The very high incidence of ALS on the island of Guam, in Western New Guinea and on Kii peninsula of Japan may provide some clues about environmental influences. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury are suspected causes, as is aluminum, which can poison the body and cause ALS symptoms. Some people may have a genetic makeup which makes them susceptible to an environmental cause of ALS. - 20 - -------------------- WHAT PARTS OF THE BODY DOES IT AFFECT? Because it attacks only motor neurons, ALS does not affect the mind. The person with ALS remains mentally sharp and in full possession of the senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Bladder and bowel muscles are generally not affected by ALS. ALS seldom causes pain, although some people do have cramps and secondary discomfort from lengthy sitting or lying down. IS SEXUAL FUNCTION AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE? No. ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALS? There are three classifications: SPORADIC (which is the most common form of ALS) FAMILIAL (a small number of cases suggest genetic inheritance of ALS) GUAMANIAN (a high number of cases of ALS occur in Guam and the Trust Territories of the Pacific) WHAT ARE THE EARLY SYMPTOMS OF ALS? ALS usually becomes apparent either in the throat or upper chest area or in the arms and legs. Some people begin to trip and fall; some lose the use of their hands and arms; some find it hard to swallow and some slur their speech. Can you "catch" ALS? And what does it do? ALS cannot be "caught" - it is not contagious. In 90% of ALS cases, it strikes people with no family history of the disease. Ten percent of the cases are classified as familial or inherited ALS. It may occur at any age, with the likelihood increasing as people grow older. However, many are struck down in the prime of life. ALS occurs equally in men and women. Because the disease frequently takes its toll before being positively diagnosed, many patients are debilitated before learning they have contracted ALS. The disease does not affect the senses of taste, touch, sight, smell and hearing, or the mind. ALS wreaks a devastating effect on patients as well as their families. As they struggle to cope with the prospect of advancing disability and death, it consumes their financial and emotional reserves. It is a costly disease in its later stages, demanding both extensive nursing care and expensive equipment. Is there hope for people with ALS? Yes, certainly. Based on recent medical discoveries, drug trials are now underway. Advances in our knowledge about other neurological diseases may also continue to shed light on the cause of ALS and help us find a cure. What is the incidence of ALS? How many people in Canada are affected? It is not a rare disease, anyone can get it. It affects about six or seven people out of every 100,000. Over 3,000 Canadians currently have ALS. Two to three Canadians die every day of ALS. Most people with ALS are between the ages of 50 and 75 though there are cases of teenagers with the disease. In about 5-10% of cases of ALS there is a hereditary pattern. About 90-95% of cases are "sporadic" ALS: anyone can be affected. This can occur at anytime within two to five years of diagnosis. What is the average life expectancy? This is between two and three years for the newly diagnosed person. However, it is important to understand that improved medical care is resulting in longer and more productive lives for people with ALS. Twenty percent will live more than five years and up to 10% will survive more than ten years. For further information: <http://www.als.ca/alsWHAT.htm> - 21 - ======================== ALS is similar to Multiple Sclerosis -- the person remains alert, able to do many things -- while the muscles waste. There are different characteristics, but if one was doing a Disease Family Tree, I would suggest these be "cousins". Attachments are available -- more diseases needed -- memos will be posted "anonymously" unless otherwise requested. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com>

You may have seen references in Gordon's submission and others regarding a 1998 Report by the Australian House of Representatives which investigated the issue of census access and came down on the side of release. This Report is now on the web as a PDF document at: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/laca/Inquiryincensus.htm To read or print it you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded for free from the Adobe homepage at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html Don Nisbet < dnisbet@vcn.bc.ca >

Submission Request re Genetically Inherited Diseases To Members of the Expert Panel:- I have two brothers with a disease that the doctors say is passed on in the family. My oldest brother has had this since age 6 weeks and is 47 now. The family has many times been told because of the high temps and swollen spleen and all the rest that he would not make it through the night. He spent most of his young life in hospital and away from home. He was a medical ? in Canada and the United States till he turned about 18 years old. My other brother started with differing symptoms and was diagnosed later in teen years. Both are under treatment and will be all their life when an attack occurs and we are looking for where and when in the gene pool this was introduced. They say of all who have this it can be traced to Jewish background. It could have been way back when but it could have been within 100 years. This is what got me started on tracing family history and I am staggered at the opposition to release of census due to the stumbling blocks that it puts in front of me. It is hard enough researching and hitting brick walls. I understand the dilemma because of working the census for over 25 years but a date of 100 years would be sufficient for protection of material. Just how many live beyond 100? A few – but I am sure the ones that do would not worry as that is the past. Sincere regards, Elizabeth (Name Withheld) ======================================= I will obtain the name of the disease and post it. The next posting will be ALS - very long -- it is a disease of "being trapped in a body" -- more tomorrow. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com>

To all:- When your elected Member of Parliament is in his/her riding, we hope YOU will plan to visit YOUR Member - even if just to introduce yourself. Above all, you WOULD like to know any census thoughts. Go to <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census> Check to see if YOUR Member of Parliament has a pretty GOLD tick mark (means YES), a RED "X" that means NO, or a BLUE QUESTION MARK. The blue question mark means he/she is undecided OR did not care enough to answer your letter. Your Member of Parliament works at your expense -- and for you --should he/she be in possession of a BLUE X, plan to visit! Prepare a letter as if you would be mailing it, complete with name of riding and any title. Either call the riding office to see when your MP is in the office -- or take a chance. By putting the letter (in an envelope) into his/her hand, preferably in front of witnesses, there will be no question the letter was not received. Above all, you would like to query your Member's view re census records release. Let us know of any happy outcome -- and should you receive a reply, we do not need the whole letter, just the part that tells YES, NO or otherwise. Gordon Watts is Keeper of the Scoreboard and needs this information (before any election). [The Scoreboard is out of date -- we need YOUR help!] A letter can be typed on a computer (save to disk), or by hand but let your Member of Parliament know YOU expect a positive response when there is mention of census release, also Access to Information Act, Bill C-206. Should you prefer to mail your letter, postage is FREE Name & Riding / House of Commons / Parliament Buildings / Ottawa, Ontario KIA OA6. Happy writing!!! Keep the petitions coming!!! Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Brampton, Ontario Keep up to date on Post 1901 Census information at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census and http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html Download and circulate Post 1901 Census Petitions now from http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm

Lord, help me dig into the past, And sift the sands of time, That I might find the roots that made This family tree of mine. Lord, help me trace the ancient roads, On which my fathers trod, And led them through so many lands, To find our present sod. Lord, help me find an ancient book, Or dusty manuscript, That's safely hidden now away, In some forgotten crypt. Lord, let it bridge the gap that haunts My soul, when I can't find The missing link between some name That ends the same as mine. -Author Unknown =========================== With thanks to the NFLD-LAB-L@rootsweb.com list. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com>