Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-03
PRESENT CONVICT SYSTEM Jefferson County Medical Society
 Pass Resolutions ASKING CONCERTED ACTION Against the Convict System In So Far as Ii Concerns Mortality Among the
 Convcts.
Birmingham. Ala. Dec. s1.

Birmingham, Ala, Dec. 31. w. H. Sanders, M. D., State Health Off,
 cer, Montgomery, Ala:
 Dear Doctor:--At meeting of the Jeff ferson County Medical society, Dec. II, 1896, committee composed of the under signed physicians was appointed for the purpose of conferring with you to the end that, through you, the various medi- cal societies in the state might take con- certed action against the present con- vict system in so far as it concerns the mortality among the convicts. At a meeting of our society Dec. 2S, 1896, set of resolutions, prepared by this commit tee, were introduced and adopted and copy of those resolutions will accom- pany this letter, also a table of statistics showing the number of convicts sent to the mines, the number of deaths per annum, the cause of death and the per cent. of mortality. We especially call your attention to the number dying from tuberculosis.
 The physicians composing the Jefferson County Medical society being immediate ly adjacent to the convict prisons are thoroughly familiar with the unfortunate conditions existing there, and from hu- manitarian standpoint wish to familiar ize the physicians of the state with the facts with view to obtaining their in- fiuence towards and have then urge the adoption of such measures by the general assembly as will tend to the early abate- ment of these conditions.
 We believe all necessary corrections Of these evils are incorporated in bill in- troduced by Dr. R. M. Cunningham, sen- ator from Jefferson, and now pending be- fore the senate. We especially urge the indorsement of such portions of his bill as refer to the hygiene and sanitation or the prisoners and their surroundings.
 While we, as citizens, heartily indorse the entire bill we anly ask the physicians of the state to take action on such DOT tions of the bill as pertain to the scien- tifc and sanitary aspect.
 In order to secure the cooperation of the other societies it will be necessary for you to have printed such portions of the bill as we enclose, with the table of sta tistics, together with the resolutions adopted by the Jefferson County Medical society, and ask their indorsement and immediate return to you for use before the general assembly.
 Please let us know at once If we may expect your cooperation in this matter
 Yours truly,
 II TIL ROBERTSON. M. D., T E. H. SHOLL, M. D.,
 J. w. BARCLAY, M. D., C. H. JERNIGAN, M. D., T w. H. JOHNSTON, M. D., J. S. GILLESPY, M. D.
 Following are resolutions of the Jeffer- son County Medical society in regard to mortality of convicts, adopted December 28 1S96
 Whereas, The mortality among state and county convicts is greatly in excess of a normal death rate in or out of prison, and,
 Whereas, The great majority of deaths Is due to tuberculosis, and in view of the nature of this disease with regard to its transmission, viz: that it is caused by a specific germ which multiplies only in living animals, especially in man, and that this germ Is essential to the produc- tion of tuberculosis, and that the dis charges, sputum, pus from tubercular sores, etc., contain this germ in abund- ance; that the life of the germ is main tained under favorable conditions, espe- cially warmth, moisture and darkness, for a considerable period, and that person exposed to the inhalation of dust or other foreign particles to which the germ is attached is exposed to tubercu- losis, and the aggregation of large num- Der of people, some of whom are tuber- cular, in one room causes the rapid spread of the disease. Furthermore, the constitutional and local predispositlon to contract tuberculosis is greatly increased by all facilitating conditions, such as un- favorable environment, improper work, etc. and the constant prevalence of ca tarrhal affections, particularly bronchial and intestinal catarrh, and to this disease the negro race is especially predisposed, and,
 Whereas, Under our present convict system all these conditions favorable to the contraction, development and spread of tubercular disease exists, therefore,
 Be it Resolved, That the Jefferson County Medical society hereby indorses senate bill No. 104, introduced in the sem ate by Dr. R. M Cunningham, of Jeff ferson county, as a scientific and practical measure that will tend to correct these evils and prevent the mortality from go- ing beyond what may be considered a normal death rate.
 Resolved, second, That this society urge upon the general assembly the passage of the above bill and respectfully re- quests the members of the general assem- bly from this county to do all in their power to procure the passage of said bill.
 Resolved, third, That copy of these resolutions, with the subjoined statisti- cal tables of the annual mortality among conyicts, be forwarded to the state health officer, with the request that he urge upon the county medical societies of the state to take similar action and to forward their memorials to their rep resentatives in the general assembly. Mortality of State Convlots from 1869 to
 lSe6.