Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-24

10 cid IN the suppression Of epIdenicr.
Nearly all Of the states do the printing
for their boards, and thus save them q
considerable item OF expenditure.
Tho Dispatch would like TO ses our
State board properly encouraged and
sustained. The board ought 10 have
greater power than II now has; II ought
t. have an appropriation Of at least 8 90
per nnnum. We have every reason 10
believe that the last Legislature woui"
have given favorable consideration to us
claims had the bill which Was presenter
been put forward at an earlier day tnan
II was Since then many communities
OF this State have been visited BY small
pox or typhoid-fever. We cannot p"'
believe that the spread OF these diseases
might have been checked had the state
Board OF Health been provided with funds
and given authority to nght the Diseases
as they should be fought
II the Legislature would extend help
ing hand TO the board. the board would
organize auxiliary associations IN each
county. and would thus be able 70 ex-
tend It's protection TO every part OF the
s,ate Further. II would put Itself IN
communication with every city board OF
health. In short. It would he to all the
c,,Ies and counties an organized helper
equipped and ready to make speciai IN
vestigations etc.
The benefits OF the boards work would
accrue largely to the country districts'
sections Of the State now wholly I'M
provided with agencies to fight epidemlcs.
The cities can manage to take care
Of themselves tolerably well. but the
country people are well-nigh helpless IN
the presence Of epidemics. They nave
no hospitals; no professional nurses; no
local boards OF health; no organization
whatever to fight smallpox, cholera diph-
iberia. etc. All the agencies needed they
have 10 supply themselves with at great
cost after the epidemic has begun It's
rayages upon their people. But. with
n well-euuipped State Board or Heaith'
they would have central authority 10
appeal to for advice and active heip.
Yes. our State Board OF Health ought
do it thoroughly. At present there IL
plenty of work demanding its attention;
but the board has no money to employ
SPECIALISTS, chemists. and others 10 exc
cute its orders. 1t stands before us ike
a good workman, to whom abundant en-
ployment is offered. but who Is powerless
because he has not the tools to make
his skill available.
We hope that It will not be argued that
the State cant afford" to expend 5000
a year for this purpose. In our judgment,
the State cannot afford NOT to make
this appropriation. because. by failing to
make it. 1t leaves the country people
well-nigh unprotected from epidemics.
When the smallpox was raging last
year in several counties the appeals made
by the affected people 10 the State board
were many and piteous; but 1t was sell
dom that the help asked could be given
or course. there IL work all the year
round for such board; but 1t is when
epidemics OF fever or smallpox or diph-
iberia are raging that its services are
most sought for and are most valued.
We understand 1t to be the purpose OF
the friends of the board to ask the
Legislature at its coming session to
make an appropriation for its work, and
to clothe it with greater powers than 1t
now possesses. We hear it suggested.
too, that the plan Of organization OF
the board might well be changed so as to
have the State Medical Society make
to the Governor nomination of the boards
members. as is done in the case of
the State Medical Examining Board. We
commend this whole subject to the care
full attention OF the Legislature. as
movement In which all OF our people are
interested, and as one which gives promise
OF reducing the mortality OF the people
Of mr. State