The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-31

In the day OF It's last Judgment
State Board of Health must stand or
fall by what II has done for the State 8
death rate. This fundamental RESPONSE
biltty belongs to the State Board OF
Health and carnot be shared with the
subsidiary boards OF health of the
counties and municipalities. for. the
general death rate OF State Is beyond
their sphere Of influence. It is, then.
the duty OF the State Board IF Health
10 circle this central point Of its activ-
ny. to consider Its general death rate
from all sides preliminary to finding
lfa direct course through the adoption
OF definite State health policies Such
an examination of the general death
rate would show 1t TO be divided into
two main parts--the non preventa BILE
and preventaf lie death rate; the latter
rate, the prcven'ahle death rate. to
consist of factors Of varying impor-
tAnce, some Of such minor importance
~ to be negligible and some Of such
kMator Importance as To deserve TO be
kent as fixed ard guiding point ever
IN the mind Of the health officer. OF
these major factors In the preyentable
death rate. tuberculosis stands pre-
eminent This one disease causes one
fourth of the entire preventahle death
rate This ore disease offers the Sfata
Board OF Health one-fourth of its total
opportunity. This one disease places
urnn the Board If Health one fourth
Of It's entire respors' hility Ne State
Board of Health can leave or delegate
80 ereaf responsibility to the weaker
and. in this particular matter. ineffec-
ltual and irresponsible subsidiary
Boards of Health Of the counties and
downs tuberculosis Is, therefore, clear
III ard distinctiyelv n State health
problem OF such magnitude as 10 call
FOR definite and comprehensive State
policy for IT'S control
The States Ability to Bear the Bur-
den OF Tuberculosis
The burden OF responsibility for con-
trolling tuberculosis having been ac-
kncwledged as belonging primarily TO
ke4ch county, how many tuberculosis
cases were members OF the Methodist
Church. or the Presbyterian Church,
how many tuberculosis cases were
members of Masonic lodges etc. and
0f these tuherculous members how
many were incipient. how many mod
Arately advanced. how many advanced
how many self-sapporting. how many
carried Insurance, in what companies
and how much. and other pertinent
facts OF course. law of this kind
would not enforce Itself but the ap-
preparation for the enforcement of this
per cent OF the visihly active cases of
tuberculosis in the State is hereinafter
provided.
Having properly grasped and appor-
toned the tuberculosis problem. the
following plan OF attack Is proposed
This consists Of two parts. A co-opera-
tive sanitorium and correspondence
school of tuberculosis
The Cooperative Sanitorium.
vrsSt0 = m eti tie fna ,x.l
possible on the following budget: For
two years an annual appropriation Of
$J0.O0o. for the next two years an an
gnual appropriation OF $40. nna: for tho
next two years an annual appropria-
Atton " $50. 900. This appropriation at
sthe end of two years would provide
eAnitprium ~ 100 beds. at the end OF
four years a sanitorinm OF ESQ beds,
and Mt the end of six years a sani-
torium OF 500 beds, which would be
earable each year of caring for about
1000 OF the States incipient and mod
etately advanced consnmptives or
about one-tenth of the copsumptive
population OF the average State The
source of the construction funds would
be State appropriations. The State
bulls the sanitorium.
Maintenance: To give the patients
the proper treatment and in addition
10000 Annually for the work OF the
correspondence srhool. as hereinafter
Described. the following budget may be
accepted as a safe estimate: For the
flrSt two years. operating with 100
patients. $4,000 annual income fnot
Nppropriation), which would allow
Der capita per diem OF 1854 for the
rnext two years with $50 patients an
AnnuAl income tnot appropriation OF
$4,000. which would allow per
capita per diem of sf42; and for the
next two years. operating with 500
patients. $4,000 annual income.
which would allow a per capita per
diem of sl.23 So much for the neces-
nAfy amount OF maintenance fund.
Now for Its source
The following cooperative agencies
Will contribute the above maintenance
budget: Patients. political organiza-
tipn1. including the state. county and
municipal governments. fraternal or
j ganiEations. including the Masons, the
Odd Fellows. the knights of Pvthias
the Junior Order, and other orders, re-
MGious ORGANIZATIONS including the va
f1ous denominations and certain tndi-
yfdual churches business orraniza-
9Ona, including our large corpora ions,
nayticularly cotton mill settlements,
eoc4ai organizations. especiallv wom-
Unse Clubs, and lastly insurance COM
p4niDo. In this connection II Is impor-
Tint to remember that n apprnachinE
4&n&h one Of these co-operafivc agencies
KIM financial help the Safe authorities
~ enabsnd under the law requiring
feO0raing Of tubercHlpsIs 10 anpeal
0aoh agepcv with an exact statement
4 ~ the number OF cases belonging to
n ae3les tRse Of fheis dseaasa,@ and their
+ &135t5 10 secure treatment: or. In other
n g0inR before the Grand lodge