The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-11
NEGRO PRESENTS SERIOUS ]
PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM.
Section on Tuberculosis Discusses
Forms Of National and
State Work.
MORTALITY FROM pELLAGRA
Speakers Favor Creation of Cabinet
Position AS Secretary Of Public
Health for Co.Operation With
State and Local Agencies.

use and the relation OF the negro to
the health problem OF the South were
tile chief themes Of varied and instruc-
tive discussion In the symposium on
tuberculosis held yesterday Afternoon,
in the auditorium OF the Jefferson Hotel
by the section OF medicine Of the South
ern Medical Association.
DR.. Robert Wilson, Jr., or Charles
ton. s.. c., in his address on *'Somo
Medical Aspects OF the American
Negro" approached his subject with
some degree of conservatism. while. ut
The same time. recognizing what has
been believed and stated by others that
the negro is source of considerable
danger. 30 far as health is concerned
TO the people OF the Southern states
lie was OF the opinion that some de-
gree OF hesitancy should be exercised
In taking for granted everything that
has been said rs to the relation OF
the negro to the spread or certain
diseases, and cautioned his} hearers
mat the subject required further and
more accurate study than has Vet been
accorded IL W the medical profession
NEGRO PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM
OF HIGHEST IMPORTA NOE
some OF our conceptions" he aaid
arc only Improved assumptions rest
ing upon no more secure Foundation
than Eercnal Impressions and current
opinions. The negro Is IL large factor
in our Southern life. economically as we'll
rs socially and politically. entering into
our domestic relations, coming into
contact With us In practically every
walk of life, ana II is our clear duty
10 ourselves. as well az TO him To
ASCERTAIN If the commonly accepted
conceptions and beliefs be true and TO
what extent lie reacts upon the com
nunity at large lie Is n public health
problem OF the highest Importance"
lie sa!u that the negro had sowed the
seeds Of certain diseases in the South,
ana that ne was particularly n carrier
! of th' germs OF malaria and tubercu-
lofis.
DR. Wilson quoted the English au-
thority, sir Marry Johnston, as saying
mat the negro lisa hive OF dangerous
germs. and the greatest Bpreader OF
disease. Lcprosy was probably in
troduced by him. and in him tubercu-
losls has found fruitful soil, Rendering
iiim serious menace.
statistics gathered In Jacksonville.
Fla. showed that the percentage of
death from malaria as between the white
people and negroes. during the period
ana S3 for negroes per 1000 of the
population.
NEGROES RELATION TO
PELLAGRA DISEASE
Particular attention TO the Negroes
relation to pellagra must be paid. said
DIR. Wilson. The death rate per 1UO,-
600 Of population from pellagra In
M|Ha'itHtoH, >. C., lUUb~l3 was, lot the
whites, III: for the negroes, 1879 In
Augusta, Ga, 1908. II was, whites,
So; negroes, AIS. In Jacksonville. Fla,
l9l1-l3. whites, 2l.0; negroes 4l.s. In
tho State of Kentucky, l911-12. 1t was.
whites 80; negroes, a.. In Maryland.
whites. So; negroes LIZ. In North Caro-
lima. 19l0-12, whites, g. negroes 6.5.
From this 1t Is noticed. said DIR. Wilson.
that in two cities and In all three
states the negro mortality from pei
lagra is far In excess OF the white.
In discussing certain type OF blood
disease. DR.. Wilson said that II has
been a prevalent belief that practically
every negro reaching middle life Is q
sufferer. IT may be true, he said, but
there Is no data upon which to base
the belief. Still, he went on, they do
not suffer In the same degree as the
white people, Reyes remarks that
negroes. though utterly careless as to
Treatment, are practically immune Fox
. Says that this affection is more pre-
valent, but not more virulent. among
tho negroes; while Hazcn holds that
IL Is not more prevalent than among tho
Hwhite people.
David Livingstone observes that
this disease which decimates the North
American Indian and threatens the ex-
t,rpation of the South Sea Islanders,
dies out In Interior OF Africa without
the aid OF medicine, and that some,
when they returned TO their own land.
It seems incapable OF permanence in
any form In persons Of pure African
blood anywhere In the centre OF Africa.
The virulence seems to vary In pro-
Dportion to the mixture OF European
&Dlood"
While It is difficult to separate the
nulatto from the pure negro. said DR..
3Wilson, 1t might be done with sufficient
accuracy as to make the results. of
o more value. 1t seems that the affec-
= lion upon the arteries is not rs fire.
luent as might be expected In the
iegro. If the disease is as prevalent
IL III the negro Is equally as suscepti-
Die.
In discussing the EARLY Diagnosis OF
Tuberculosis, the Essential Factor in
prevention and Cure" DR.. Charles II.
leaths due TO tuberculosis in 1911 in
he registration area were 7S,5ii. and
hat for one OF these who died there
we're countless others who were suffer
ns from the disease I'm Its inciplent
a tages. The solution Of the problem,
e urged, resolves itself into carly
i ecognition and the segregation OF each
use. He advocated diffuse educa-
ional propaganda, such as is contained
n public lectures, moving picture
hows. teaching In schools. and said
hat the main lesson should be directed
gainst the danger OF neglect. The
nmily physician should make the dag
osis. and should repeat the examina-
ion for weeks, If necessary. as less
han 35 per cent of the cases shown,
acilline sputum I'm the beginning. He
escribed the symptoms as being undue
:eariness. languor, varying appetite
nd varying temperature. which. he
aid, pointed to eternal suspicion. The
xaininationS Should include the lungs
nd inspiration and expiration. the
hroat-and OF all the tests he thought
ne simultaneous test to be the ono
ar excellence. The failure OF reac-
ton in this last test, he said, shows
he absence Of disease in 90 per cent
{ the cAses.
In short, DR.. Cookies motto was that
ternal suspicion is the price of free
ON from the dread disease.
DIR. Thompson Frazer, OF Ashevillc,
\. c., speaking on "The Significance
z tho Won Pirquet Test" said that
:: has a wider sphere of usefulness
4, han q