The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-29
TUBERCULOSIS H0IDtD
IS FOUND N POVERTY
IN Prevention of Poverty. Declares DIR.
Harnsbcrecr, is Eradication of
r. H. 20 Re Found.
GOV. STUART rs COMMENDED
state Has Executive Behind Campaign
For Civic Progress and Safeguarding
Health OF the PcopIc-Discussion
Follows Able Papers.

ymposium, before the forty sixth an
nual convention of the Medical Society
of virginia. on The state Against
tuberculosis p" The papers brought
to the fore the points along the line
Of the nght against the white plague
at which progress has been made and
emphasized the causes for failure OF
similar progress in certain quarters
The need of even greater activity being
taken by the state was brought out
and approval of the activity of Cover
nor Stuart was voiced IN the discussion
which was opened by DR.. stephen
Harrsberger. of Catlett.
The four subjects and those who
handled them in the symposium were:
"Sanatoria In the Fight Against Tu-
berculusis,. DR.. I4awrason Brown, of
Saranac, y Y; "Dispensaries, Or
Louis Hannah, director Of fhipps
clinic, joins Hopkins Baltimore;
Visiting NuTseS,'- Dr. David II, ty-
man. Gaylord Farm Sanatorium. wal
linEford. Coma. and The Advanced
Consumptive In It's Relation to the
spread and Maintenance of Tubercu-
Iosis In the Community" DR.. Charles
L. Minor. Asheville, \. G.
Or. Harnsberger. in his address
opening the discussion, said.
Calls For State Aid.
We have heard four valuable pa
pers Taken in their ada pta hility to
the common interest and public good,
we could have nothing better, The
title to this symposium was we'll
selected The State versus Tuber-
culosis commends itself to every one
who has knowledge OF tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis abounds mostly among
the wage carners and the poor. There
for it's prevention becomes a state
question and rightly should come
under the mana cement of the depart
ment~ Of health. In this work we
should remember that compulsiYe
measures but cucumber whom they
seem to enrich Wisdom yields every
thing to reason ana refuses everything
to force. True zeal follows true
knowledge and ii is on the line OF
true knowledge made available in
every home that Is to win the victory
over tuberculosis. This, OF course,
calls for State aid. When laymen take
an active part in public health mat
ters IT Is splendid proof of the sound
mess and efficiency of modern pro-
phyiaetic measures. We should bear
b In mind that Governor Stuart, states
man and patriot who has ever STOOD
for the best for the masses. is be-
hind this campaign for civic progress
and safeguarding the health of the
people. The active and Intelligent
interest Of Governor Stuart gives
abundant reason for anticipating the
active concern of counties and
municipalities throughout the State.
bringing Truth Home.
"Sanato1ia, diapensaries. visiting
nurses, health bulletins, newspaper
articles, etc. all valuable educational
agencies. by dint or hard work and
persistent publicity have authoritative
~ brought the truth home to thous-
ands OF households. But in the nature
OF case, il is impossible for these
agencies, as now financed, to reach the
great ma tority of the homes calling
for direction. instruction and care.
Judging from my own knowledge
of tuberculosis. this fight means the
betterment of the social and economic
condition OF the unthinking and un-
thrifty people of the State. The en-
vironment OF the poor and to less
extent poor environment everywhere
is the subject OF fundamental concern
In this fight with tuberculosis. Form
erly, We have depended chiefly In the
control Of individual cases by re-
pressiye measures, bnt reason tells us
we should expect more good from
preventive hygiene and sanitation in
the home and home surroundings as
well as In all places of employment.
lodging. etc
II am not unaware that the
warfare against tuberculosis has
been on In England, sIaringIy
since 1898, actively since 1881.
faithfully and parsistently directed
and prosecuted by DIR. RAnsome.
( The decline OF the tuberculosis
death rate In England and Wales,
! from thirty-eight deaths per 10.-
( 600 population in 1888, TO less
M
strikingly encouraging. In 1894
/ DIR. Ransanc predicted tho eradi-
/ cation of tuberculosis In England
In thirty years. In 1904, how
ever. he set the time OF Its dis
! appearance for 1880. ] do not
agree with DIR. Ransome.
His prediction is too radical.
Poverty is the hofbed of tuberculosis.
The eradication OF tuberculosis. then,
In Its final analysis. is largely a prob
lem in the prevention OF poverty---and
no one knows how to solve that. I'm
less 1t is solved. tuberculosis will con-
tinue to exist Ideally tuberculosis
can be eradicAted--practica II can
not The relation OF poverty to the
cause and spread OF tuberculosis ia
well-recognized fact; that the further
removed families are from poverty and
excessive toll. provided they are safe
guarded by wholesome physical ana
moral surroundings and influences.
actual and potential. has threaded the
course OF mankind from the dawn of
history. Poverty cannot be legislated
away 1t does not depend upon high
or low Wages or short hours Poverty
is a lapse OF the individual. The only
remedy Is industry and economy.
Poverty is an inherent part of the So
cal fabric and Is doomed to stay. But
there need be no sense Of discourage
ment because States cannot do away
with poverty and tuberculosis. SO long
az there Ia the assurance OF a gain
and plain evidence that the improve
ment is due not merely to corrective
measures adopted by legislatures. but
to clearer understanding OF the con-
tagious character and preventability
of tuberculosis on the part Of the peo-
pile The causes OF tuberculosis and
the circumstances of its spread must
be widely promulgated by States and
municipalities, so that the truth shall
reach even TO the most ignorant, dis
( orderly and necessitous homes
Environment Not All.
But not all the blame should be laid