The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-06-08

10 refer 10 your editorial OF d Le" udS
ago calling attention to an article OF
Maj. Frederick Russell of the |. 5.
army medical corps. 4 few tacts
chronicIed in this report will bear re-
peating.
Table of this report covering the
whole enlisted army. American and ma
tive troops shows that in 1905 with
/ total enlistment of 64,017 men there
We're 282 cases Of typhoid fever and =
deaths
For the past three years ant-ty-
phoid vaccination in the army has
been compulsory and this same report
shows in 1918 with a total enlistment
Of 90,646 men there were 8 cases OF
phoid fever 10 deaths.
Does not this fact call for more than
Passing notice" VIII not any com
mon sensed individual stop to consid-
er the actual saving in dollars and
cents If 1t does not appeal to any otn-
CT considerations Is there no value IN
the extension of this measure to ever
phase of civil life. to firms corpora
tons, factories and railroads that en-
plOV armies Of skilled labor"
In the annuIs Of preventive medicine
there : only one other campaign
which compares to this and that is the
practical determination Of smallpox by
vaccination
And as matter Of fart This in
ocuIation causes less inconvenience
than vaccination for smallpoH-it has
been definitely shown that the pro-
Cedure is both efficient and harm
less
Many Of our citizens read your ed
torial and are aware Of this most re
markahle work in the army. \ few
probably know that there are 100000
cases of typhoid annually in our Amer
lean cities and the enormous toll It
eXacts
But the vast majority have no CON
ception Of the situation and are ljv-
ing day to day trusting to Providence
that they be not stricken.
And 7 know IF no way more eff
ciert to bring the actual facts to pub
lie consideration than their repeated
publication in the daily press. Your
opportunity for pubic good IS bound
less.
It is q matter for municipal consid
GRAFTON. I dare 70 venture a sugses-
tiOn-a plan that is thoroughly praCtt~
cal
Pensacola has typhoid fever fewer
cases perhaps than any city of it's
size in the country. But every case
is 4 blot upon our CivilizatiOn-it is
preventa BILE Florida has a most eff
cient board Of health. one of the best
provided for in the country.
That board of health furnishes free
material for vaccination against
smallpox. But the cost Of the anti
typhoid germs makes it impossible for
the state board Of health to furnish II
free to every citizen Of the state.
The retail cost Of the anti-t typhoid
serum is $3.50 for the requisite three
doses
There are comparatively few farnt-
lies in this community who could
not afford to at least purchase i'm
munity for the bread-earner Of that
family at that price. if not for all
members of the family.
! have reasons to believe that this
serum can be purchased in large guam
titles direct from the manufacturers at
a much reduced price.
I also know that there is not a doc |
tor in this city who would not gladly |
give his skill and time TO administer |
this treatment 10 the INDECENT poor.
Could any investment that the city |
government should make, be produC- |
tive of greater returns in economic |
gains (pure dollars and cents If YOU |
Wild than an appropriation to cover |
the actual cost of the material to rem |
der those of its people immune who |
could not otherwise pay for it them |
selves
II will be my pleasure to assure you |
Of sufficient support from the m en- bers t
of the local medical society to insure |
the carrying out of the plan
The idea will meet oppoSltion-ep
erythIng worth while does; it can he I
done and in a community 50 intimate
" known as our own il will not be eN- /
ceedingly difficult to determine who is
deserving of free treatment
No greater j dy ertisement could be
devised for our city than to herald it
with assurance as free from typhoid"
CLARENCE HUTCHINSON.