Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-06-04
Health Officers in Annual
Session at National Capt.
tai Discuss Variety Of Dis
eases and Causes,
A new MALADY IN THE SOUTH
Shown That the Country is
Remarkably Free From
Leprosy.

Washington, June Am inter
esting development OF discussion
OF rabies today at the annual confer
ence of state and territorial health
officers with the United States pub
lie health AID marine hospital ser
wee was tho fact that tie disease
frequently contracted from the bites
of "skunks. wolves caj othe- ami
mails"
The subject was brought up by
Assistant Surgeon Geaural Kerr.
who presented a large char showing
the geographical distribution OF rab-
les In each OF the states, 6nd spoke
OF the measures adopted ia various
localities for combating thu disease.
Drs. Godfrey. OF Arizona and
Brumby. OF Texas. described the
danger from the bites OF skunks and
other wild animals In their local
ties. and declared that wolf bites
frequently convey the Infection OF
rabies
DIR. Kerr declared tina. public
opinion was becoming rapidly educa-
ted to the necessity OF muzzling dogs
az the only certain way ~ overcom-
Ing the disease. The general coaclu-
sion OF the conference was that II
was quito as reasonable to require
the muzZling OF dogs aS Il was 10
prohibit the free roaming of cattle
and horses in the streets. A mo-
ton by DR.. Bennett, OF Colorado,
providing for the appointment by
Surgeon General Wyma OF n commit
tee to consider the question OF the
prevention OF rabies and report to
the next annual conference was
adopted.
Introducing the subject of leprosy
Surgeon General Wyman voiced the
widespread feeling that this disease
was one which concerned all states
collectively. He pointed 10 the fact
that tho United States was the first
government TO make provision for a
thorough investigation % leprosy.
His remarks had reference TO the
leprosy institution in Hawaii. AS
sistant Surgeon General H. r.. Cofer
spoke OF the striking improvements
that had been accomplished In the
leprosy situation in Hawaii. not only
for the comfort OF lepers, bat for the
care OF their nOnleprous children.
That other causes thar that o. in
fected water supply must be found
to explain the continued prevalence
OF typhoid fever In different commu-
mites appeared TO be the geeral sen
timeat OF the conference while the
subject was under discussion at he
afternoon session. Or. L,nnsden, OF
the hygie1ic laboratory, stated that
approximately 10 per cent. Of all the
cases OF the disease I'm Washington
during a period Of Investigation wee
believed to have been duo TO milk.
The necessity OF a thorough study OF
the disease throughout Tho country
was emphasized.
The surprising prevalence OF the
hook worm disease" ln the south
was shown by Or. Charles w. Stiles
who said IL was due 90 Lnsanitary
conditions and the resultant pollu.
ton OF the soil. He said that q
per cent Of the children IN large
section OF the south had the diseas 80
In such an apparent form that II
could DO detected wItho a micro.
scope.
Child labor in the south, said DR.
stiles, was a positive blessing, al
" was improving the cor dition o.
the children themselves and causlnl
a general uplift I'm the condition o.
the poor population. He also saiC
that II WAS decreasing the death rat,
among children. Dr.. Sthes urgeC
the need OF educating the poor PEG
pie TO the necessity OF providint
themselves with proper sanitary "a
c!lities and teaching the country doc
tors how TO treat the disease.
lPellagra, the disease which ha
made It's appearance I'm tdis countr,
only in recent years, was discussed
Dr.. &. +. Williams. OF South caro-
lima. read a paper showing its prev
alenee In the south Or. n. r. Har
rls, Of Georgia, said the disease oc
CURED chiefly In the fall and sprin
and that II was probably due TO eat
ing cornbread made from Lnripe an
mouldy corn He sah that IT'S MOS
promiaent symptoms avs insanity.