The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-12-14
DR. WILLIAMS REPLIES
Gives Interesting Information ON Re-
cent Law Passed By County Commits

An article entitled "The Board OF
Health Acts" appearing in The Hus-
tier under date of December 7th, 1911,
which seems to have come from DIR.
J.. s. Brown, Superintendent of Health
for Henderson county, being called to
my attention, have read il, over care
fully. / desire to make comment upon
it for several reasons
In the first place, I am pleased to
note that DIR. Brown is appreciating
one of the duties which devolves upon
him by virtue of his Office, namely, to
give instructions to the people of the
county re garding health matters. He
can not be commended too highly for
his efforts to preform that every i'm
| portant duty. ] will also say that it
| is not duty alone as health officer,
but is also one of every physician. /
trust he will not let his efforts in
that direction rest with the above re-
ferred to article, for there are other
subjects of equal Importance, re gard
ing which he should instruct the pub
lic
/ thoroughly agree with DIR. Brown
in saying that consumption is an IN
fectous and communicable disease:
and one that the health authorities
should take steps to control. Also
that the germ of the disease may be
found in the sputum and other ex-
cretions, and that such excretions
should be handled with care He also
speaks with wisdom when he says we
should not use towels, pillow cases
and other linen that have been used
by the consumptive; except that he
might have amended that statement
by adding that sssuch articles of linen
might be safely used after they shall
have been properly disinfected.' 1
feel that without such modification
, of that statement, many might be lead
to destroy such linen which is both
an unnecessary and useless extraYag-
ence
1t is not every piece of linen or
towel which may be used by the con-
sumptive that is contaminated by the
infection but in as as it is easily pos
sible that such articles might be so,
contaminated, it is best, in every case.
to resort to sterilization in order to
make sure of no danger from them
This is easily carried out, by the sim
pie procedure OF boiling such articles
OF linen, etc.
DIR. Brown states that fresh air,
suitable climate, generous nutritious
diet and proper medication from the
proper treatment for the disease" In
so far as he goes in that, it is with
out doubt correct; but he could have
gone one step further by saying that
a constant skilled guidance by ply
sician trained in the guidance of such
cases is of as much importance as all
other remedial measures combined
DR.. Brown is also correct in re gard
to what he has to say concerning
ventilation.
"A suitable climate is our gift from
God, and we have no right to be sell
fish with it. We should welcome every
sufferer who would be benefited by it. -
/ quote that from DR.. Browns article,
exactly as he stated it, and can not
hesitate to add emphysis to it. A
very important question has therein
been advanced, and it is deserving
that the attention of every person in
this community should be forcible cal
led to it. In that section of the state
OF North Carolina, which is known
as the mountainous section, God has
DOOu l8ONNQ SSUO1Ou6 III Ills UOA0I1O14
OF climate conditions. There is no
part of the United States which has
been as richly endowed with climatic
conditions which are favorable to re-
covery from disease, and more espec-
tally the disease known as "Tuberculo-
sis'' or Consumption" Eastern and
Central North Carolina have not been
the recipients Of this wonderful health
IL -Ha~ A. ya&A
other States been so favored.
From the viewpoint of Christian
Charity and unselfshness, we would
be doing wrong if we attempt to deny
others the advantage of this wonder
full climate. In the first place I do
not believe God intended us to feel
that the climatic conditions we have
here are our own particular heritage,
nor to deny others the opportunity to
come here and avail themselves OF it's
curative effects. There can appear no
rational reason to my mind why God
should show such discrimination.
Therefore believe we should be un-
selfish with it, and welcome every suf-
fer who would be benefited by it.
But when we do welcome them, we
do have the right to insist that our
health authorities exercise a. control
over them to sufficient extent that
they do not abuse the pFfvalege by
becoming careless in their habits to
the extent of communicating to exer-
else such care as will reduce the dam |
gers OF injecting others to minimum.
In commencing DR.. Brown and his
article, ! wish to say that / do it
with all my might, and with true sin
cerity. And I further say that I sim
cerely hope he will not let the time
pass without further effort to instruct
those people who have largely,
through legal procedure, placed the
care Of health conditions IN his hands.
/ feel It my duty az a citizen; as o
as member OF the NUM-
cipal Board OF Health: as q member
and omcer OF the Henderson-Polk !
County Medical Society, to endorse his
efforts and to urge further exercise
OF them.