Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-16
Communities Must Join in Fight

I RON the Virginia Antituberculosis Asso-
citation, whose excellent work, in connec-
ton with the State Health Department is
entitled to all praise, comes an appeal for
community interest and cooperation in
solving the problem the association has made
its spccia! care. This appeal should sink into
the mind OF every city and county official in
Virginia. II full success is to be attained or
even aDproXimated, tuberculosis, as Miss
Agnes ID. Randolph, executive secretary of
the association says, must take it's place by
the side of smallpox in the local conscience"
What she means Is that the community
must interest itself in the control Of this dis
ease. and must socialize and synthesize the
agencies now engaged in fighting it. Ind-
viGuals or associations of individuals, can do
much. and have done much but the greatest
hope lies in the intelligent and ceaseless
vigilance of The government. Not only must
the sufferer from this disease have opportunity
To recover his health. hut he must be pre-
vented from following those courses. product
usually Of his ignorance or poverty or of
both, that make him public menace. That
implies the pressure of the strong but gentle
hand Of the law.
The last General Assembly took n long
step forward when it provided funds for the
establishment OF Sanatorium for negro con-
sumptives and increased the appropriation
for the educational work OF the Health De-
partment The plain fact is that the stua-
ton demands attention. To blink it, or evade
1t, or fail to remedy it, would he consummate
folly.
In the report of the Tuberculosis Com
mission, as presented to Governor Stuart, il
is shown that more than twice as many per-
sons died from tuberculosis in Virginia in
1914 from typhoid fever, smallpox
measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, whooping
cough and malaria combined. The Virginia
tuberculosis death rate is higher than the
average Of the registration area OF the United
States. The negro death rate is more than
twice the white rate-and half of the negro
deaths were among domestic servants.
Richmond. at Pine Camp is doing some
thing to solve its own problem, and that work
Will be enlarged when the new city farm is
placed in operation. Danville, Norfolk and
Lynchburg also strive to live up to their duty.
but the commission found other cities
entitled to its commentator.
Virginia communities need TO he aroused.
Tuberculosis is not distinctvely urban in its
menace, for the rural death rate is not far
below that OF the towns and cities Tho
negroes especially require help, both on their
own pitiful account and account Of the
menace of the negro CoMsumptive to the white
race. Says the mission this Subjec :
THE presence Of this figure amid our
statistics makes campaign OF prevention i'm
prratre. tuberculosis in Virginia cannot be
controlled except by controlling tuberculosis
1 in the negro race. Control of this disease
must begin with the education and care of
/ the negro consumptivc."
How true that is and how clear! We all
! know there cannot be Il particle OF doubt
! about it. The commission estimated that the
/ Stale lost $50 800 .067 in wages care of sick
/ and invested capital in individuals during
I 1914 from consumption nearly three times
! the States total income from taxation" And
/ tuberculosis is a preventative disease.