The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-05-12
Important Movement
NAUGURATED BY WOMEN'S
FEDERATED CLUBS.


eases, and Some Suggestions
Relating Thereto-Question
of Health Has Precedence
Over All Other Questions,
Declares Mrs. w. r. Hollo-
well-Convention Establish
es Department for Conserva-
ton of Health.
One OF the features Of the conven-
tion here last week of the North
Carolina Federation of Women's s
Clubs, was the address Wednesday
night by DR.. W. S. Rankin, secretary
OF the State Board of Health, on
preventable diseases and the conser-
vation of public health. At the con-
clusion of DR.. Rankin's very able and
timely address the Federation voted
to organize a Department of Public
Health, "the most important move
ment taken by the Federation in its
eight years of patriotic activities. +"
it is declared. Mrs. W. r. Hollowell,
| OF Goldsboro, president OF the North
Carolina Women's Betterment As
sociation, presided over this meeting
it being turned over to her for the
time being by the Federation presi-
dent, Mrs. Eugene Reilly. In taking
charge Mrs. Hollowell delivered an
earnest and we'll timed address, full
| of humor and practical thought, de-
claring that "the question Of public
| health has precedence over every
other question in North Carolina"
Here we will let Mr. Edward l..
Conn, special representative of the
News and Observer, tell the balance
of the story for us:
| The purpose of this evenings ses-
sion was to consider the public health
work which. the women of the Fedora
tion might undertake. To this end
DR.. Rankin suggested that a central
committee be appointed or elected by
the Federation, the duty of this com,
mittee being to urge the formation
and direction of local or municipal
public health committees by the
Women's Clubs of the various towns
of the State. In addition to this
the Central Committee will use two
pages in the Bulletin of the North
Carolina Board of Health OF the
Federation of Women's Clubs.
finances will permit the Central Com
mittee will engage q woman who
understands sanitary conditions tC
make a canvass OF the various townf
of the State, pointing out to the
local clubs the sanitary needs O
these towns and showing how they
can assist in supplying them and in
alleviating bad health conditions
The newspapers will be supplied with
public health literature, and the sub
iect will be taught in the public
schools.
At the conclusion of DR.. Rankin's
address Mrs. Hollowell stated that
the responsibilities OF the Federation
were measured by its opportunities
DR.. Rankin had shown what women
could do and what they could dc
alone, she said. She did not advo.
cate less mental culture, or embroid
cry or social pleasures, but to add to
them this health work, which they
cannot afford not to do she declared
Mrs. W. n Hutt, Of Raleigh, one Of
North Cardinals most useful women
and a leader in every good work
made one of the most thrilling
speeches Of the evening; she explain.
ed what the women of Wake county
were doing for the benefit of public
health, three of the things the Wake
County Anti-Tuberculosis Society
was standing for, she said, being
first, visiting nurses to care for the
INDECENT sick; second, the fumigatior
of the premises after the removal OF
death OF tuberculosis person, anC
third, the establishment OF @ santa
rum for the INDECENT consumptives
Mrs. Hutt spoke strongly against
coca-cola and certain patent medi
cines, advocated the organization o
a national Board OF Health, and il
conclusion eloquently endorsed what
DR.. Rankin has advocated.
Mrs. W. G. Rogers, OF Charlotte
moved the establishment off depart
ment of health under the auspices o
the Federation, and the motion wa
unanimously adopted, after which {
rising vote of thanks was given DR.
Rankin for his timely address.
The question of how many anti
tuberculosis societies there were il
North Carolina was raised by Mrs. 4
l.. Coble OF Statesville, it being ascer
tained that less than fifteen counties
had them There is Red Cross so
: ciety in Wilmington.
Mrs. Hollowell spoke OF the exem
plary work for public health that hae
been conducted in Wayne count,
against the hookworm. The mention
of that disease caused smiles to rip
pie over the audience, but Mrs. Hol
lowell did not at first heedit. "Ther'
is not a doctor in Wayne county,
she said, "who would be brav'
: enough to cay that he hasn't had ;
case Of hookworm, and one Wayn
county physician said he had hat
: over two hundred cases" Mrs. Hol
lowell declared there could be NJ
greater national asset than a health.
people. One of the things she ha'
been Eorking for was compulsor,
education. and that great caus
would be immensely aided, she as
serted, by the Improvement Of publ
health conditions. She related sever
e al stories to emphasize hog tha
. would result from the lessening c
B disease. "The question OF health ha
: precedence over every other question
: In North Carolina" she said. She re
; ferred to innumerable cases wher
children and their parents too couI
; neither read nor write, suffering fror
hookworm. The women, she stated
!, could at least go to see them, tell theI
(CnnA.r,nI r,r, fr,,,rtI, m rrn