The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-11-04
PUBLIC HEALTH
SERIOUS PROBLEM
The Governor of Texas Calls Attention
to the Necessity of Fighting
Tuberculosis.


Oklahoma City, Okla, Nov. 4.-Gov-
ernor o. P. Colquitt, of Texas, in a
personal appeal to the chief executives
of the various states of the union, ask
ing for cooperation in behalf of the
diseased who are flocking to the south
west in the hope of securing benefits
from climatic conditions, points to the
fact that the southwest is unprepared
to offer assistance to the many who
come within her borders lacking in
sufficient funds to properly care for
themselves.
In a communication to Governor
Cruce, of Oklahoma, Governor Colquitt
calls attention to the fact that the
records of one southwestern city in
Texas show that in the past five years
six natives of Oklahoma died Of tuber-
culosis, and that eleven bodies of con-
sumptiyes were shipped back to this
state for burial He asserts that the
records of other cities in the south
west will show similar facts proper
tionate to population. Attention is
called to the lack of preparation to
accommodate invalids without funds,
there being no free hospitals in any Of
the southwestern states, and assist
ance is not rendered destitute invalids
by any organized charitable associa-
tions Invalids can not hope for aid
from private individuals, because the
demand for aid by strangers has ex-
hausted the patience of the people.
What is true as pointed out by Gov.
Colquitt is also true in Oklahoma Dr.
J. G. Mahr, state, commissioner of
health, calls attention to the fact that
Oklahoma has as yet failed to make
any provision for the care of tuberc-
ulous patients, either in the incipient
stage or in the advanced stage De-
sipte this fact, many communities in
Oklahoma have been forced to assume
more OF. less. responsibility for the care
of consumptives who have sought this
climate, yet who are in no condition to
earn their own livelihood These in
valids are, as class, made up of the
most advanced cases of tuberculosis,
and are usually lacking in necessary
funds, so that, through no fault Of
theirs, they soon become public
charge, and are treated as paupers;
and when dealth relieves them Of
their sufferings, they are accorded a
paupers burial
While the experience of Oklahoma in
this regard is not as extensive as that
of Texas, as reported by Governor Col
quit, the situation is considered by
Commissioner Mahr as one that should
serve as warning to Oklahoma, and
cause a general appreciation of the
fact that much of the expense of car
ing for paupers would be eliminated
were this notwithstanding transit class
convinced that Oklahoma is unprepar-
ed to give them assistance.
"The appeal for aid from the state of
Texas is worthy of the most serious
consideration by the general public, T"
said Commissioner Mahr. 1T deals
with one of the most serious of our
public health problems. The fact that
Texas has awakened to her predica-
ment and is now trying to secure Co
operation from other states to relieve
her cities Of this burden should con-
vince all Oklahomans of the necessity
of an institution in this state where
proper aid and care could be extended
to those who are now costly charge
of the several counties.
Governor Colquitt in recent COM
munication to Governor Cruce, en-
closes a resolution adopted by the
Southwestern Conference Of Tubercu-
losis in session at Waco, Texas, in
April, 1912. advocating publicity as to
the lack of free hospitals for strange
consumptives in the southwest, the
inability of charitable organizations to
aid such, the difficulty of securing suit