Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-22
TUBERCULOSIS SPREAD
CAUSES APPREHENSION
i'a'aGes OF Disease in Virginia Dis
cussed in Annual Report to
Governor.
NEGROES PRESENT PROBLEM,
Commission States That Many Col
ored Servants of White Families
Are Suffering From Consumption.
Asks for Money to Fight Evil.

Tho rnvages of the white plague"
within the borders of the Common
wealth have reached Il point TO cx-
cit" grave approximations. according to
the findings of the Tuberculosis Com
mission whose report was submitted
yesterday TO Governor Stuart to he
transmitted next month TO the General
Assembly.
The rapid spread of tuberculosis
among the negro race. especially among
servants employed in white households
~ regarded by the commission as one
Oh 'hc most serious phases Of the
alarming conditions disclosed by the
systematic research conducted BY the
body. Facts and figures bearing upon
the history of the disease in every part
OF the state. practically every com
munity. have been compiled by the
commission for the information Of the
General Assembly.
The commission. which was appoint
cd by the last General Assembly con-
sists Of the following members: w l..
Anderson. chairman. l. T. Spatig, 4 7.
Lincoln. Edmund Strudwick and DR..
Harry 7. Marshall Miss Agnes Ran
dolph serves as secretary to the com
mission.
DISEASE - FOUND
TiiHOTGIIOUT STATE:
I'll" findings. summarized, are az fol =.
lows:
First Morc than twice as many per
sons died III Virginia of tuberculosis in
1919 than from typhoid fever. smallpox,
measles scarlet fever diphth"ria.
whooping cough and malaria cornDiied
Second. The death rate from tuber-
cuiosis in Virginia is considerably
higher than the average for the regis
tration area Of the United states
Third. In" discas" is distributed
through all parts Of the state
IA IL B.
rro"s Is more than twice that among
whites. Almost half tho deaths among
negroes w.T" Of domestic servants who
wcr" III position TO spread the disease
among whit" families
Fif'h Virginia lost $2O5oO.OG7 in
wages care nf sick and invested cap
ital in individuals during 1914 from
consumption, nearly three times the
states total income from taxation
sixth The loss and suffering from
nus scourHe IS pr-ventabie.
PLAN CAMPAIGN no
FIGHT WHITE PLAGUE
The recommendations were. first. TO
the Immediate steps which III. com
mission thinks should Il" taken By
the Legislature and other authorities
70 iiuprov. conditions; second. TO q,
campaign, which shall continue for
many years. IA order gradually 20 mas
ter tuberculosis and related evils The
plan OF campaign outlined is based in
part upon the existing situation in Wiz
pimin, IN part upon the advice of prom
!n.nt SPECIALISTS, whose papers form
part OF TN" report III part from meas
urcs used successfully elsewhere. and
IN par, from the advice OF state Health
Commissioner Ennion .. Williams and
other experts in tuberculosis.
An appropriation az $4,000 for u state
snnuioriun 10. negro consumptivcs is
recommended; also an appropriation Of
$4,000 q year Tor tn" next two years
10 extend the campaign being carried
on b. the state Board of Health: $4,000
Tor additions 10 the Catawbn Sana-
tor!um and an increase of $4,000 for
the n"Nt two years for maintenance Of
THAI institution: $1,000 for the main
t"nauc" Of the negro SaEatoriurU, IL
established. Tor 1916. and $4,000 for
1"l., $4,000 FOR IN" treatment OF adj
vanccd cases at Carawha. to he avail
able in 1917; legislation that Viii en-
courage tn" establishment OF hospitals
foI the treatment OF the disease in all
communities where they are desired.