The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-06
DECLARE TYPHOID
AND TUBERCULOSIS
NATIONAL SC0URCE
Health Service Doctors Point
Out Terrible Death to
Insurance Men
WORSE THAN PLAGUE
IN INDIA, ONE SAYS
Blames Ignorance and Care
lessness and Points Out
Need of Campaign
of Education

NEW YORK, Dec. 5.--Off7ciais and
panies. responsible for eight billion
dollars of outstanding risks, met at
the Hotel Aston today and discussed
subjects Of the highest importance to
the health and financial welfare Of
the country, upon which the pros
perity OF these great corporations are
obviously dependent. The speakers
did not bubble about the fact that.
next to insuring q man, 1t was essen
tial to the success OF the insurer TO
keep the insured from dying.
The formal name of the gathering
was THE Sixth Annual Meeting Of
the Association OF Life Insurance
Presidents Its purpose, as printed
on the programs. was "betterment OF
life insurance service"
or great interest TO city folk was
the address Of DR.. Allan j. Nc
Laughlin, Of the United States public
health service, washington. D. {.
Or, McL.aughlin made the point that
a campaign OF education concerning
typhoid would save 1920 lives In
this country annually. He estimated
the economic loss from typhoid deaths
at tlao, 100000 a year.
America Jagged far behind Europe
In coping with this dread disease. he
said. The typhoid death rate there
and here, as illustrated by com
parison of cities, as, for example,:
Edinburg, Ia per 100000: Berlin,
"a; London "a; Paris Sc; New
York, 1Ie: Chicago. l3.7: Phiiadel-
phia, IT'S: Washington 2s2.. and
Minneapolis, ss.7.
Worse Than Plague.
typhoid IN the United States than
there were cases Of plague In India,
although India has two and a bali
times the population" continued the
speaker. Every typhoid case is due
to somebody's ignorance or careless
ness. Only proper education can
check the ravages OF this disease. and
this means the enlightening of all
| the people. concerning the menace OF
the improper disposal OF sewage. i'm
pure milk, flies. uncontrolled cases
of typhoid, the filthy personal habits
of individuals, and. above all. con-
taminated public water supplies"
Great as is the havoc OF typhoid,
1t was shown to be far behind the
scourge of tuberculosis by charts
exhibited by DIR. Watson 8. Rankin.
secretary OF the North Carolina board
Of health. Raleigh. n. c. q.
In the average city OF this coun-
try the death rate Of the various
diseases was: tuberculosis. 1903 pei
Zoe, 900: diarrheal diseases (under
two years., zoos. typhoid, $50;
diphtheria, 2l4; measles, 12.s: scar
| let fever. 11.6, and whooping cough
ia. The average death rate in
cities from all causes is Is.
Publicity The Weapon.
nr Rankin fusfefed that publicity
was the chief weapon against disease
! and death, that a city should no, only
keep minute vital statistics. but should
have them kept constantly in public
view. He told how one sick" city In
the South was practically restored to
| health by finding out what diseases
were killing of its inhabitants.
Applied vital statistics. therefore,
| furnish the only check the people can
have on their health officer. the only
means by which they can discfimi-
nate between the true and the coun-
terfeit." said DR.. Rankin. III a health
officer has been employed for two or
three years, and can show no in
| luence on the death rates of his juris-
| dtction, Il Is time to make change
in the health Office"
! The adaptation OF plan for finan-
cial rural creditism in this country,
| fashioned somewhat after those In
/ force abroad, and the creation OF a
| life insurance to cover Indebtedness In
| the event OF the borrowers death.
were advocated by Myron T. Her
rick, United States ambassador to
France.
Herrick Points Way.
4 Every year our farmers are spend.
ing $2s0.oo0,ooo more for interest
l.