The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-28

Pointing out that the pro,ongation
OF life by the suppression of preven-
table diseases In OF much greater value
than the cost OF the means employed.
the state board of health has COM
pieted Its annual report. which viii
be sent to the general assembly in
January.
We hang our heads I'm shame when
ever asked. What Is South Carolina
doing to prevent tubercuiosis?' We
can only answer. All that the legisla-
ture Of this State viii permit US to
do"
This statement is made by the board
In bringing out the fact that the
board has frequently requested appro-
priations from the general assembly
to nght tuberculosis. and as frequently
has been denied. ss
The annual report. which has been
prepared. shows the work accomplish
ed during the year by the board. 1t
contains review OF the means that
have been used to nght the various
diseases. The members OF tie board
making the report are: Robert Wilson.
Jr.. chairman. Charleston; ID. B.
.Fethis. Ridge Springs: c. c. Gam
brell. Abbeville: Il. A. Hines. Seneca:
w. ,. Burdcll. Lugoff: william Egle-
ston. Hartsviile: w. M. Lester. Co
lumoia: w. w. Dodson. Greenville;
J. Fraser Lyon. Columbia; A. w.
Jones. Columbia.
DpcussinG epidemic diseases the re-
port says that the State health officer
sent out, In February. postal cards to
all Of the physicians OF the State, re-
qucstinx reports on contagious dis
eases In their practice. 'The response
to this appeal has not been satisfac-
tory" says tho board.
In the report Il 10 shown that during
the months Of January. February and
March. smallpox was reported In
Anderson. Bamberg. Chester. Dillon.
Fairfield. Florence. Greenwood. Hamp-
ton. Lexington. Orangeburg and
Spartanburg counties. The State
health ofncer visited all points and
enforced vaccination wherever pos
Eble During the summer months
smallpox was reported in Beau
. fvt county. During the year
dkllppx was reported In a score Of
other couyties, AN places were In
spected by the state health officer.
Although the law requires all chill
cren attending school to be vacinated.
many children are not vaccinated and
there is danger OF an extensive spread
OF the disease among the children In
the rural schools IL this law is not
more strictly enforced. The state
board of health dees not deem 1t wise
to enforce quarartin, against small
pox as II gives false sense of secur-
ity ard prevents vaccination. the only
known method of checking the spread
OF this disease" says the board in the
report.
IL Is shown that only two deaths
were caused from smallpox during the
year. IL is stated that the white
population OF the state Is about 55
per cent vaccinated. while the negro
population Is about 90 per cent. Tue
toasd reaches the cohoiIsion that
much work must he done before the
disease " stamped out.
In the report II is stated that IS
cases OF scarlet fever were reported
during the year. The board believes
that the disease is one that has be-
come somewhat milder In It's mani
festations
board. diphtheria has been present In
the State every month during the past !
year. IL is shown that the board has
distributed s5.ts7e5 worth OF diph-
theriai antitoxin during the year.
I'VE calculate from, this amount |
that at least 200 little children In
South Carolina have been saved from
death by expending this amount OF
money and triple that many from tax
ing this disease. as n large amount of
the antitoxin has been use6 Co i'm
munize those children exposed to the
disease. The public Is learning the
value Of antitoxin and demand 1t at
once from the physicians; consequent
ly more has been distributed this year
In proportion TO the number Of cases
In the state than was used last year.
The people demand this safeguard Of
their children and the legislature Is