Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-12-17
.WHoIE.rIME HEAIFH OFFICER.

1880. 20 ~. -. = sffs IT
, when the state Board Of Health
published Hendersonville's unenviable
health record last summer, there was
some whispering but no loud talking
in local circles The Democrat short
" proceeded to break the news in
raild, gentle doses, at the same time
pointing out our needs. We did not
want to make ourselves odlous,
therefore did not give the truth in its
worst light, but since conditions are
now being proclaimed publicly in the
effort to secure a whole-time health
officer for Henderson county, we will
endeavor to use stronger terms in
describing conditions to prove the ne
cessity of improved health conditions,
which can be guaranteed only through
the efforts of scientific systematic
health work.
The State Board of Health in let
tel to the Democrat last fall said
among other things: Your total
death rate from all causes for 1912
was 1876 per 1000 population while
your total death rate in 1911 was 24.9
Ter 1000. These figures you see, are
high compared to the total death rate
in the United States. which, according
to the. Bureau of the Census. is Is
Fer 1000. -
"In glancing over the causes TO-
! these deaths, we find that you had a
very high mortality from preventable
diseases. For instance, in 1911, you
had % deaths from tuberculosis, in.
1912 you had 10 deaths from tuber-
culosis and the 1913 figures are not
completed. Likewise, you have had
several deaths from whooping cough,
measles and malaria, and your deaths
from diarrheal diseases among child
rem under two years of age have been
higher than they should be. Your
deaths from diarrheal diseases among
children and your typhoid fever death
rate indicate that you have entirely too
many flies and that you have very
poor milk regulations. Your death
rate from measles, whooping cougr
and other epidemic diseases indicate
that you have very lax quarantine"
Health is a nations greatest asset
and therefore a good health record
for resort city is absolutely neces-
sary to a popular and steadily patron
lied resort Prevention is much bet
ter than cure and whole-time health
officer for HendersonviIIe and Hen
Gerson county would have vast
amount of work that needs to be done.
There are several counties in
North Carolina employing Whole-time
health officers to splendid advantage.
The Democrat hopes to see someS
thing come from the present agita-
ton for improved conditions here by
the employment of whole-time health
officer.
On this subject we would respec-
fully refer our readers to the interest
ing and timely addresses elsewhere
in the Democrat by DR.. Kirk and III.
Dixon on sanitation and whole-time
health work They speak authorita-
lively; they are thoroughly acquaint-
ed with conditions whereof they
speak, therefore the Democrat would
urge you to study the concrete I'M.
| complimentary but undeniable facts
which they present plainly and unob-
scured by technicalities.
Further, we would urge you to read
below what Sampson and Robson
counties have done. 1t would not
bankrupt Henderson county to 90 like
wise, but we are in a fair way to be
oankrupted aud our chief asset de-
stroyed unless we follow their goot
example.
DR.. B. w. Page for Robson county
has compiled the following statistics
as an index to his work as whole
time health officer for three years, his
work beginning March 1, 1912.
Deaths 1911 1914
I1uDercuIOSlS '''''''". ''' 44I 40
Diarrheal (infants) 49,. 80 so
| Typhoid ................ SO 4
| smallpox. .. 49,. Lib U
LlpnCher1a ............'. La
Whooping Cough ....... 35 3
! pneumonia. 800. 1SO 70
Total from all diseases. E. . 907 $50
The State Board of Health says
about Sampson county after it had en-
ployed whole-time health officer for
one year: so
"The town of Clinton has not had
case of typhoid since the cleanup