The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-03
DRIVING DISEASE
| INTO LAST DITCH
Final Conquest No Longer
Dream, Says DR.. Williams
in Official Report.
WANTS CHANGE AT cATAWBA
Management Should Be in Sepa-
rate Board-Nccd Vital
Statistics Law.
WANTS CHANGE AT cATAWBA

u'sedse ID no ionRor dream, and tho
extension OF human life through i'm
proved conditions OF living Ia no long
err fancy" asserts State Health Com
missioner Ennion q. WILLIAMS in his
annual report presented to Gov. Mann
yesterday. Tho year has brought Its
triumphs over disease and has demon
stratsd that our progress. though
slow, is nevertheless sure surely tho
Commonwealth. which has done so
much to mako America great should
lead in this work and give to her citi-
zens the maximum of protection from
disease. the better to fit them for their
duties of citizenship"
Tho report comprises tho results OF
the years work in oil the bureaus Of
che department. Tho results as to
typhoid fever and as to tubereulosis
have already been presented in The
es-Dispatch
Govern Katnwba By Bonrd.
Perhaps tho most important recon-
mendation made is that the manage
ment of the Catawba Sanatorium
should pass from control OF the State
Health Department and be hereafter
vested in board OF directors appoint
cd BY the Governor. similar to those
which control the other public hospl-
tails OF tho Commonwealth In max
Ing this suggestion TO the Leglslu-
ture Dr.. Williams does 80 In the be-
lief that Catawba can be mnde more
useful TO the State as separate In
stltution and In the further belief
that the officers of the department will
be better prepared to discharge their
other duties II they are not charged
with the supervision and control OF
the snnutorium. The health work in
Virginia., he says, ''is SO vast and tho
force now enlisted so scanty that It
behooves the State to conserve It's
energies and TO utilize its health force
to the best advantage"
There ia review of the work nj
Catawba, including the provision re-
curing all patients to leave after six
months treatment. SO us to admit
others and to give opportunities to az
many as possible. This was followed
bv the successful effort to raise money
to build pavilion to caro- for those
who had nowhere to go.
Should De Enlarged.
Taking up tho enlargement of the
institution. DR.. Williams says there
are 10000 conBumptlves in Virginia,
OF whom at least 10000 can DO cured.
1t Is realized that 1t la impossible for
4
OF unfortunates. AS rapidly as tho
finances Justify. he says, the lnstitu-
ton should be enlarged until II can
accommodate 500 patients. Under the
six months rule this would enable the
sanatorium to treat 1000 consumptives
year, OF about all In the State who
can expect to be cured.
Should. however. II be impossible to
enlarge Catawba at this time It is de-
n a p h0f fhn 900
provide an inirmary without delay.
There are always some patients who
need speciel attention and should be
confined to their beds. and this is de-
sirable also from the States stand
point In the matters OF economy and
administration.
Reporting Stntisties. :,
Another recommendation which Is
most earnestly made is that the Leg
tslature pass law giving the State
Health Department power over the
method of collecting and reporting
vital statistics. No man can now Sc
cure for legal purposes a transcript
OF an official record proving the time
and place OF his BIRTH or the time and
place OF the death of any person in
whose estate he may be Interested
Save in the cities, there are no such
official records.
But this is desird mainly from the
health standpoint Accurate statis-
health work. Study of reports may
disclose undue prevalence of dis
/, ease In a community which would re-
suit In an investigation by the de-
partment, with the probable saving of
lives" Physicians. he argues, should
be required to report all births and
deaths. and there should be COM
plete system In this regard.
During the year. $1,000 OF the
money Of the Rockefeller Sanitary
Commission has been spent in Virginia
In hookwoFm Investigations and treat
ment. This bureau Is under the direc-
tion of Assistant Commissioner Allen
w. Freeman. The inspecting physicians
employed by the fund have been able
to educate the public In general sani-
tary matters, especially as to typhoid.
for the cause OF this disease and of
hookworm are close together.
Rabies Treatment.
Almost every day at least one treat
ment for hydrophobia ls administered
by State Bacteriologist Meade Fergu-
son. Thirty-two cases were treated
during tho year. Quarters are needed
for this work. as we'll as for Or. Fer
guson's laboratory operations. He also
needs an assistant, In view of tho
grea. Increase In his task.
Improvement in sanitation Is noted
In the report of State Sanitary Engi-
neer Richard Messer. who works among
the cities. towns. villages and with
regard to public institutions, as to the
disposal of sewage.
Hotel work. as well az other inspec-
lions, have been most successfully
done by DR.. Eoy x. Flanagan, head
! of this bureau.
Fin lily. DIR. Williams advocates the
free distribution of diphtheria anti
toxin. He thinks that the state could
Ill no or