The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-30
WARDS STATEMENT

| made yesterday afternoon is as follows:
 There is no epidemic of typhoid here and I am sure there will not be unless the Mcdonald suit breaks down all the city's sanitary machinery.
 The addition of 10 police officers to the sanitary department will soon get the town in cleaner shape than ever be- fore and Birmingham will maintain it's record as the healthiest city in the south.
 Without referring to the usual and standard source of typhoid, in my opin- ion large number of these cases orig | mate out of the city. Numbers of bows go out on hiking expeditions and camp around where the water is unprotected and frequently polluted
 | Other citizens go out and drink water l that they know nothing about fre- | quently auto trips.
 | "I has also been suggested that the wholesale consumption of blackberries that are unprotected from flies on the | stands is another source of infection. Blackberries and all other berries should be cooked before using, especially in fly I time.
 | "It is on record at the city hall that | typhoid cases increase during blackberry | time.
 l One of the most sensible precautions | is for every family and store to supply | themselves with fly traps. They are in | expensive and do a lot of good work 1 toward stopping any increase in typhoid. 1 The disposal of garbage and the 1 handling of dry closets is being attended 1 to more effectively than ever before l Tn the meantime the city of Birming- ham is vigorously enforcing its sanitary i laws and inspections. With the co-opera- tion of the public the present alarm will be seen to be unnecessary"
 NEW CASES REPORTED | On Tuesday morning 6S cases of typhoid fever had been reported to the health department of the city of Birmingham. Today there are approximately 90 cases on the records.
 l Tt is possible said Commissioner John R. Hornady. that 90 cases of ty- ] phoid is not an epidemic or anything like one, but at the same time a gain of about 20 cases in two days cannot be considered healthy or safe" | T am amazed at the suggestion that | the soft pedal should be used in deal- ing With the typhoid fever situation"
 said Commissioner Hornady. 'The idea ] that the people should be kept in ignor- ance of a matter that concerns their lives and their health in such a vital way seems too ridiculous for serious dis
 cussion. It is an indorsement of the system adopted by certain bird which has a large body but a very small head
 and which believes that if it sticks its head in the sand when danger threat.
 ems, then the danger will disappear be- cause for the moment it is without the range of vision.
 Nothing is to be gained by attemptins to cover up or minimize the seriousness of tLo lO,d rD.. and much is to be gained by letting the people know what the conditions are They are entitled to this information fol their own protection and to suppress the facts when their lives and their health may be jeopardized would be little short of criminal.
 Tt reminds me of situation that de. veloped some 20 years ago when this city
 was threatened with serious outbreak
 of smallpox On that occasion there was a conference between public officials.
 health authorities and business men, an6 this very question of using the 'soft
 pedal came up then. The publicity flea. ture was discussed at some length anc finally it was decided, and decided wise. ly, that the people should know the truth The facts were presented through the
 newspapers, the people were informed as to the preca utions that should bt taken, and the cooperation of the com.
 munity was solicited. The result was tt suppress the outbreak speedily. The peo. pie helped in the good word. as they al ways will when they have the facts, anG today smallpox is almost unknown in Bir. mingham, largely the result of education and cooperation.
 Tt is a mistake also to assume tha what is suppressed at home is not knowr abroad The United States government
 complies the statistics and they are sen
 broadcast. Obviously, therefore, it il
 much better to grapple with the stua
 tion frankly. and frankness is the only means of obtaining the cooperation tha is essential to success, and get rid of tn, T evil Birmingham, naturally one of tn,
 healthiest cities in the world, should no
 have typhoid fever. The disease can b.
 eliminated by removing the cause, ant
 the cause can be removed by arousing thu
 people to the necessity of action. Tn,
 soft pedal system has been tried for
 good many years and it hasn't worked
 Now it is time to let in the light, whicl
 has never failed to get results.
 Birmingham is one big family, and i
 would be just as appropriate to sugges
 that the soft pedal should be put or now, in the face of a rapidly mountin, typhoid record, as it would be to sug gest that private family should be kep
 In ignorance of the fact that one of tn,
 household had been stricken with th . disease
 INFORMING THE PUBLIC Dr. Scale Harris who had extensiv ) experience during the serious typhoi, : situation in Mobile few years ago whel asked for his views. said:
 Surely the newspapers should give t. the public the facts regarding typhoi' fever. 1t is only when all the people ar informed regarding the presence of I oto disaa bo met employ in preventing it's spread that w ,r hane tn eradicate ii PuhlicifY ha