The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-02-08
IGNORANCE is COSTLY.

Report Of the State Board Of Health
Shows that Although Many Prevent
able Precautions are Taken that One
Fourth Of Deaths in South Carolina
are Due to Preventable Diseases.
While much opposition to vaccina-
tion yet exists, the annual report OF
the State board of health sent to the
general assembly shows that approx
imately $4,000 persons were vac
cinated in South Carolina during the
past year.
That typhoid fever is entirely too
prevalent in South Carolina must be
admitted" says the report in stating
that II must also be admitted that the
control and prevention of the disease
are. among the most importau. and
diiiicult problems before the BOARD at
the present time. 1t is pointed oIt
that the disease is largely one OF the
rural districts, vil:s ses and small
towns.
The report shows that there were
So cases of infantile paralysis in the
State during the year AS to pellagra,
it is estimated that there were from
500 to 500 case in the State during
the year.
When we stop to consider" says
the report that about one fourth Of
the deaths in South Carolina eacn
year are due to preventable diseases
and that many lives might be saved
by simple and inexpensive measures.
it is evident that or ignorance OF.
and indifference to, public health is
costing us dearly"
Infantilc Paralysis.
"Poliomyelitis (infantile palalysis)
has claimed" says the report. -
share of cur attention for the past
year. Not until recently has the in
fectious nature of this disease been
clearly established, and as it was not
included in the list OF reportable dis
eases, the attention OF the board was
not called TO ii until the latter part of
the summer. BLANK reports were
then prepared and sent out to all
physicians OF the State. with the re-
quest that they be niied out and re-
turned TO us. AS a result of this in
quiry 50 cases were reported. the
tabulatiOn OF which showed the fol-
Charleston Is. Orange burg. II. Aiken
10, Williamsburg. 10. Fairfield g.
Georgetown .. Darlington 3. Flor
ence ,, Saluda 3, Hampton >. Lancas-
ter 4. Sumter Beaufort 1, Berkeley
/, Chesterfield !. Clarendon /. Dor
chester |, Richand /, York
"A study of the reports received
revealed several interesting facts in
addition 20 the geographical dis,ribu-
don OF the disease.
The seasonal distribution OF the
disease was shown as follows. iray
cases, June 6. July 20. August %.
and September 10, making total of
6S cases. Seventeen cases reported
by Health Officer Green OF Charleston
did not give the date of onset
cases "As 10 the infectiousness of the
disease. it is striking that no two
cases were reported from the same
family. In the 6S families of which
we have accurate data. there were
1872 people over Is years of age and
l69 under Is years of age. The pos
sibility of aDortive cases was in mind
when our blanks were sent out and
inquiry was made about other con-
temporaneous Illnesses. Only four
could in any way be construed as
abortive cases. These we're four chill
dren between the ages OF and /. all
from separate homes, in whom a
diagnosis OF malaria was made. Ii
should also be stated in this connec-
tion that no prophylactic measures
SO far as we are aware. were insti-
tuted i'm any OF these cases That the
disease is communicable there can be
no question but how it is commu-
nicated yet remains mystery"
Educational Campaign.
Since the reorganization OF the
board it has been the sense of all the
members that no plan of action would
yield better results than an aggres-
sive campaign Of education.
Indeed, at the very first meeting
after oath of office had been taken a
resolution was unanimously adopted,
and later presented by committee to