The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-23
A STATE HEALTH BOARD
THE HARRIS NECK EPIDEMIC
SHOWS THE NEED OF ONE. Il


The Request for Assistance from the
General Governments Commented
Upon-Dr. LeHerdy seys It's an Out
rage, and That Gov. Eorthen Had
Plenty of Authority TO Take Charge.
There Was State Board of Health
Once, But It Recsme imperative for
Want of Funds
"Why has not Georgia a state board Of
healthl"
This is the inquiry which is being made
by the physicians and citizens Of Savannah
at the present time on account OF the small
pox epidemic at Harris Neck, which the
federal government has taken charge of at
the request of Gov Northen.
The concensus Of opinion is that it is not
a very creditable thing for great state
like Georgia to call upon outside aid to cope
with troubles Of this character.
There was state board of health In ex-
istence in Georgia at one time, but 1t died
from ennui after little more than years
existence. 1t was put in practical opera
tion Aug. /, 1875, and made its last report
to Gov. ColQuitt Jan. II, 1871 which report
was taken up nearly altogether with Savan-
nah's yellow fever epidemic Of 1876. The
late DR.. J. g. Thomas of this city was presi-
dent, and Dr. V. II. Taliaferro of Atlanta
secretary.
DIED OF NEGLECT.
In his report DR.. Thomas said: "The work
of our board has been greatly hampered
this year by the great lack of means to carry
out their designs. The members of the
board have been, and are still willing, to
give their time and talents to the work with
| out compensation; but they are not will
| ing to 20 further unless ample contingent
means are provided to carry out such meas
ures as are contemplated by the law under
which they are acting. 1t is believed that
In no great lapse Of time there
will be general feeling that
this department OF the state govern
ment is of as much Importance as any other,
and that it will prove itself indispensable to
| the welfare Of the people. Until it is I'M
derstood and appreciated, the board are
willing to make many sacrihces, feeling
| that all such things have to be nursed until
their value Is made apparent to those for
whom the benefit is designed. But on the
other hand, even in the short time OF its ex-
istence, the board has found that very much
| is expected of them, and that they cannot
| fulfill public expectations without a very
large increase in the power as well as Of the
| appropriation"
No attention was paid by the legislatures,
| 1t is said, to the boards request for appro-
priations and that perhaps is the best reason
to be advanced for its being numbered in
the past history Of Georgia.
DIR. LIE HARDY's VIEWS.
DR.. J. G. LeHardy, medical director Of
the Citizens Sanitary Association is an en-
| thusiastio advocate of a state, board OF
health. He considers it a necessary institu-
70 ha ~ 20 IL
characterized it an outrage upon the citizens
to have to call upon the United States
| government to come here and take charge
| OF a matter which the state itself is well
able to handle Despite the fact that there
| is no state board Of health in operation in
Georgia now. DIR. LeHardy said Gov.
| Northern had plenty of law behind
him to take charge of the Harris Neck
| epidemic himself. He should have
sent physici ans there to look after the sick
| and destitute, vaccinate the people aud see
that the contagion wasn't allowed to spread.
Every man has a right to clean his own
stable" said DR.. LeHardy. land there Is
ample provision in the statutes to expend
money for such emergencies as the present
one without having to call upon the United
States government or any other outside aid
The health officer of Savannah had nc
right torequesE the governor TO call upon
NOT DEAD BUT SLEEPING.
"What happened to the state board OF
health, anywayF' the doctor was asked.
ut has passed." said he, Through at
tacks Of epilepsy and catalepsy. and is now
in lethargy. 1t is not dead, but in that con
| dition that nothing but strong dose OF
| powerful dollar medicine will arouse it
| The board never did much anyway. Thu
members came to Savannah after the yell
low fever epidemic of 1875, when all th
danger had passed. to make a report. The
let a man named Brown, connected with
the United States marine hospital service
fix the report to suit himself.
II have tried three times" continued DR.
LeHardy, Ito get a proper state board o
health established in Georgia, but the
scheme always failed for some reason Oh
another. My idea was to have the stat
board composed of a commissioner, VIII
would be the head, and a secretary, thes
to be assisted by member in each con
gressional district, who in turn would b
assisted by three members in each county
two of whom should be physicians. Tn
county board would make reports to th,
congressional representative. who woulC
forward them to the commissioner. Thi
would have given Georgia a thorough,
systematized board of health, which coulI
be operated at a cost Of a few thousand dol
lars year.
GOV. BROWN KILLED THE SCHEME.
! "a bill containing this scheme, l believe
passed the Senate, but was defeated in tn
House. Somebody told Gov. Brown that
the measure became a law the board O
health would take all the convicts ava
from him to use them in the sanitary wor
of the state, and he promptly went to til
legislature and said. Boys. hands Off, an
the boys kept their hands off, and W
! haven't got any state board of health"
Several other prominent physicians wer
talked to upon the subject, and nearly all {
them expressed themselves as strongly |
favor of a state board.
Georgia" said one. sis about the onl
state In the union now that hasn't stat
board of health, and it's about time for a
o awakening from the lethargy."
: 1t wouldn't be a bad idea, it was sui
y gested, for the next nominating conventic
+ for members Of the legislature to instru,
Chatham's representatives TO introduce
y bill esta blishing a state board.
n Cut About Man