The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-02
nEr"rEn HEALTH Ecu ,IRc1>,.

The profound value OF the registra-
ton OF vital statietics in Virginia Ia
appatent from the annual report OF
the Health Commissioners We have
at last ledger wherein the actual
rGNsical condition of our populati.n
- recorded We can see where are
tue heavy losses where We are max
Ing aains against disease aud what
must be done mex, TO cut the denth-
rate We have stopped guessing and
Begin ,c know The result OF the frst
ures ~ the most important fact in the
commissioner report
That the negro is tho biggest prob.
lem IN our health work Is once more
demonstrated in terribly convincing
ways. The SICK negro. who liz CEN
ire OF contaRion for his entire com
ninnit>. Is The real white mans bur
den without The negro Virginia
would he one OF tie mon, heslthfuI
r.Rions In the United states Every
natnrat element makes 70, health ---ci-
mate, sturdy people. food supplies. ah-
sence OF large cities aud general pros
periv re' the death rate for tuoer-
Of the countrv. Tn. rate 70, whites
S nearly 90 per 700 900 loss ,han the
national ratio In registration nreap
rne numpet OF -tli- births among The
nesrnes vas lmost Tho same a. among
whites. though The white population
twice The negro rhat the negro
affects he moral health ~ the state
ir the SEINE way is rbowr bv the start
Inns tact that Virginia has a homicide
rate ~ II { per 100 0JC AZ against C.
FOR The rest Or the nation We are a
.aw ahlding SUD autet people. IN, the
negro is quiCh 10 us" violence IN per-
snnol anarr"ls and Tor criminal ends
That The state health workers be
lieye there ~ no remedy iol these evils
save The -,oU process or education
among tn" negro race. that viz
sin,a is not awake I" the need. is in
dioated o' the single recommends ton
made for handlins diseased negroes
This - foi state So natorinm for coll
ored people - seEreuate md care Tor
advanced and hopeless cases or tube,-
cuioa's now spreading The disease
broadcast We sugges, the metlica
schools of the state that n department
for the study OF negro diseases and
foI he instruction IN preventive med
icine against the evils OF insanitary
conditions among negroes would DO OF
far-rea ching influence in raising our
standard 81 social health
Aside from thl. central problem.
there IL much Of enconras ement and
promise IN this report The STEADY and
effective work OF the Health Commits
sione' and his colleagues is bringing
splendid rewards. and we congratulate
them IN the name OF Virginia
Tubercu,os,s morbidi,y has been re-
duccd ovet 5000 in hvo years The
tate from typhoid has been cut in half
since 1900 and the major par, OF this
Of Health plus local agencies through
education better sanitation and purer
water The haht agains, hookworm
has been carried relentiessly. so
thai twice rs many examinations for
that disease were made in 1918 as in
1912.
These arc splendid achievements We
arc winning IN our fight against dis
ease There are dangers 10 be faced.
snch as the spread Of malaria and the
increasing presence Of pellasrs Yet
science plus work can conquer these
t'si asset OF an, peOple TO get health
costs money 'rh- past record Of The
state Department and the promise Of
| future achievement should guarantee
such an appropriation for This labor
! from the Leg stature Of ISIt mat We
motion Of public health in Virginia