The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-21
RICHMOND 6 GOOD
Or | BAD B. n! HEALTH [. \. |. |
Special Health Investigation,
Committee Gets Down to Busi-
ness in Good Shape.
cHAlRMAN,s STRONG ADDRESS.
But One Natural Cause for Death,
and That is Old
Age.

IL j. "a 4 il
DR.. q. q. Williams, chairman OF the
special Joint committee appointed to In
vestigate and report upon the health con-
ditions Of Richmond and which will here
after be known as the Health Investign-
tlon Committee. called meeting for
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. Those pres
ent were DR.. Williams and Messrs. Nor
ton, Lynch and Grundy. Mr.. Blair WAS
unavoidaby prevented from attending.
In calling the meeting to order, DR..
Williams made short address. outlining
the duties OF the committee and the re-
sponsibility resting upon the members.
The doctor spoke substantially as fol-
lows
In the investigation that is before va
1 hope we will all fully appreciate the
responsibility that rests upon US.
The three principles OF government
personal liberty, personal property and
the pursuit OF happiness--are largely de-
pendent upon the public health. There is
no more sacred trust in the hands OF
the government There Is nothing that
should command more earnest attention
OF the public servants than the depast-
ment to promote health and prevent the
rnyages Of disease.
'The government is vigilant, strenuous
and untiring in its efforts to protect the
people against foreign foes; it should he
equally SO in its efforts to protect the
people against the invasions and attacks
OF disease.
Disease saps the yitals OF the COM
nunity. seriously interferes with industry
and commerce, brings poverty to many
homes, In addition to the pain and an
guish 1t leaves in its path.
THE only natural cause OF death Is old
age. All other causes OF sickness and
death are the results, directly OF indi-
rectiy, OF environment and bring about
death prematurely. The greatest advances
ever made In medicine have been made
In the last thirty years, in finding out
the nature and causes OF disease and
thereby their prevention.
Service of Prevention.
THE means and methods to prevent
those diseases which are responsible for
a large majority of deaths have been dis
covered. The people have not yet awak-
ened to realization of this fact. Even
members of the medical profession itself
are not all aware of 1t.
1T Is our. duty as members of this
| committee to find out whether everything
| Is being done by our Health Department
| that can be done in the way OF averting
the causes of,,disease and protecting the
people against its consequences.
1T is our, duty to find out whether
| there are conditions in our city that need
| to be corrected. whether the ordinances
that now exist are sufficient. and are
enforced. and carry out the purposes for
| which they were created. and also II it
| be found necessary. then to recommend
such new ordinances as will place our
department on a plane of efficiency equal
to any in the country
Examine the Records.
| Chairman Williams, of the special com
| mttee to investigate health conditions
will get his co7workers together this
week and at least organize for work
| The joint resolution of Cotyncil Great
In gthis committee was read and ordered
| spread upon the minutes.
On motion of Mr.. Lynch, the secretary
| of the Board OF Health was instructed
| to furnish this committee with q copy
| of the annual report of the Health De-
| possible.
/ On motion of Mr. Morton, the chair
MAJ nd Mr.. Lynch We're named as a
| subcommittee to examine the records
OF the Statistical Department of the
| board of Health and report their findings
back TO the full committee as soon as
| possible.
On motion Of Mr.. Morton, the Finance
| Committee was requested to provide a
4 fund of $3.50 to be used, or so much
thereof as may be necessary, for the ex-
4 penses OF this corrmittee.
| The committee then adjourned, subject
to the call of the chairman and the
meeting win probably be held one night