Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-14
.cosTAGzoN AND PUBLICITY.

| J. LAC 1tIlEI dl Assembly pass q
law, says the Williamsburg Gazette. COM
pelling Boards Of Health in cities. towns
and counties ito publish promptly the ex-
istence OF any contagious disease. even
single case" There Is, argues our con-
| temporary. "too much secrecy on account
OF what is called business interests and
it thinks there should be penalty for
failure to give publicity to contagion Of
any kind
If the evil Of secrecy regarding conta~
gious diseases cannot be remedied in any
other way, re are clearly In favor of
remedying 1t by legislative enactment, such
as is advocated by the Gazette. The
hush" policy is foolish and reprehensi-
bic, for more Reasons than one. Viewed
from the standpoint OF business inter-
ests.' it defeats its object. IN the end.
a community in which a contag ious dis
ease exists suffers more business loss
from secrecy than from publicity. Eva
sion and suppression OF the truth give
rise to all sorts OF rumors which invari-
ably exaggerate the real conditions, and
as to cities. these rumorsN are eagerly
seized upon and spread by commercial
competitors, 5 AZ.
We have just had a striking illustration
Of the correctness OF that contention. RE-,
Gently few cases OF smallpox developed
in Richmond. and practically constituted
one group The fact Of the existence OF the
disease here leaked out through spe,
cial kilograms. and, as the Dispatch noted
at the time. in at least one other city one
oftthese specials appeared under flaming.
headlines, which read: Smallpox Rag
Ing in Richmond. This was distinctly
not true. 1t is almost impossible for
smallpox to attain any thing like an epil
dernic, or even serious foothold in Rich
mond. The community is one of the
most thoroughly racclnated in the United
States. and we have smallpox hospital
situated some distance beyond the COR
porate limits. where. patients are cared
for But the canard had gotten on its;
travels. and there is no telling how
effectualiy It has been worked. and may
yet be worked, to the detriment OF our
business interests. by our commercial,
rivals. II the plain. unvarnished truth
had been published under the. signatures
Of members of our Board Of Health, prior
to the sending out Of the specials in ques-
ton, the effect OF such sensa tlonal. head-
lines as We have called attention to would
have been absolutely discounted.
E The hush" polieyI IS also to be depre-
Gated for another potent reason. II in
wolves, as we see 1t. dereIietioh Of duty to
the whole citizen body. in cities, towns
and counties where there is contagious
disease. albeit the outbreak is never SO
inconsiderable. Publicity is the best safe.
guard against the spread Of contagioD.
BY publishing every-case and its location.
persons are prevented from running into
danger. end thus riskang contra citing the
naalady themselves. or carrying 1t to
Others.
Some years ago, when the smallpox pre-
vailed in Richmond TO quite serious ex-
tent. as it cid in various other places ii
the country, our Board Of Health, Of
which the late Dr.J. Grattaa Cahell was
ptSSiQeut puClSueds uaaiy S1l4C1al IS Dull 4
letins OF the cases as they occurred: their
location. ard the result The exact facts
were kept before the people of Richmond
and outsiders all the time. AS a conse-
auence. there was no exaggeration OF the
conditions by cur commercial competitors.
and little or no hesitation In visiting the
city. on the part OF our country friends.
Our citizens We're forewarned. against un-
necessary exposure. and vaccinat ton was
stimulated. The wisdom Of the policy
pursued then was fully INDICATED. and
that calls for the adoption OF the same
policy throughout the State.
So FAR as Richmond is at present con-
cerned, the rindicatio Of the course pur-5 !,
sued by the Beard Of Health when Dr,
Cabell was atits head. only fortldes what
VIC said the other day touching the few
cases OF smallpox that have developed
here. That Is. that our city has not inr
to fee.-h za sel, Is gain isnd .aotAinx tai
lo.s rom pual!elty The sslns remark
apps.ss 70 cosHau ,tses, "a n
NsSA ikat or lsesfe ~ llIaelth ma All
sothss Board aatte Health o. fhss M
10 4 - spv