The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-02-13
Charity Secretary Prepares
Drawing to Show How Tu-
berculOsis Threatens Rich
and Poor Everywhere.
DISEASE CLAIMS 351
Melpolder Says Legislature
Should Pass Bill Requiring
Quarantine and Fumiga-
ton of House Vacated.

When Secretary Melpolder of the
Central Charity Bureau completes his
map of the city showing where deaths
from tuberculosis have occurred from
1909 to 1913, and exhibits it in some
Main street display window, many
Richmond men and women will have
it brought home to them squarely that
death in the form Of this dread plague
constantly stalks at their heels-both
rich and poor alike.
This map Mr.. Melpolder is prepar-
ing fairly bristles now with pink and
blue tacks, the former denoting white
people and the latter colored people
whose lives tuberculosis has claimed
as toll. s 4
While a slight decrease IN the death
rate from tuberculosis has occuFyed
both in the city and county frnna VA
to 1913 tstefiatifa9 tor l4l4 are not
Eeenst1f ysty M. = "a lei ap6fdtr frankly
says that with effective legislation,
the spread of the plague could be re-
duced to a minimum
Plague Makes Poverty.
"One of the greatest contributing
causes to the perpetuation of poverty
in Richmond is tuberculosis" Secre-
tary Melpolder said today, because
this disease, which is practically ig-
nored by the health authorities be-
cause of lax state and municipal pre-
ventative regulations, is constantly
spreading its infection among our
workers.
with the aid of five Earlham stu
dents who have volunteered their serv-
ices without charge, have completed
tuberculosis survey of the city. This
is part of general health survey of
Richmond which I have undertaken
This map will show our people more
impressively than written words, the
immensely Of the problem in the shape
of this plague which confrOnts Rich
mond
Covers Entire City.
Tuberculosis is not confined to any
one section of Richmond 1t has
spread throughout the city, principal
ly because no provision is made for
the thorough renovation and fumiga-
tion of homes where deaths have oc-
Cured from the disease. Statistics
show that for every advanced case of
tuberculosis, seven people are infect
ed. Think of such system which per-
mits of a family moving into a home
where an advanced case of tuberculo-
sis has been housed previously with
out fumigation and renovation being
provided. Renovation of such houses
should even include the repapering of
walls.
The plan Of providing for a city
physician and trained nurse to devote
their entire time to the prevention of
tuberculosis is an excellent one and
should be the initial step in fighting
the disease, but some kind of coun-
ty institution where disease victims
in the advanced stage can be isolated
is also necessary True third stage
tubercular victims cannot be COM
PEELED to become atients at such an
institution, but | think at least fifty
per cent of these unfortunates would
be willing to be treated at some coun-
ty hospital"
Claims One Each Week.
Mr.. Melpolder's records show that
from 1909 to 1913 there were 351
deaths from tuberculosis in Wayne
county, an average of over one death
week, a record which has been es-
tablished by no two other diseases OF
this number 1S9 were in Richmond.
number of Richmond victims of
the disease died at the infirmary and
other places outside the city.
'If the legislature fails to provide
for the reporting of all tubercular
cases it has neglected to perform an
important public service" promi-
nent physician remarked today.