The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-08-02
TUBERCULOSIS WEEK.

August 1st, to 9th, has been set
apart as tuberculosis Week ~ the
State Board of Health. Elsewhere
in this issue articles appear with ref
erence to the fight on this disease.
When we recall that tuberculosis
annually takes a bigger toll of hu-
man lives than diphtheria, Group,
whooping cough, scarlet fever, meas
les, typhoid fever and infantile pa
ralysis taken together, we get some
idea of the ravages it is making on
the human race. When we are in
formed that in its early stages it is
durable, and know of the many
deaths that are claimed by it each
year, it seems that we are little less
than criminal. When we are told
that it is a communicable disease and
that it runs rampant in a family and
even in a community, unless people
are taught proper treatment of the
disease and the proper precautions
to take for the sake of others, and
contemplate the utter Indifference Of
people as to the spread of the dis
ease, and especially the Indifference
of the medical fraternity, we know
that somebody is criminal.
tuberculosis must be cured. But
in the fight to rid humanity of the
scourge the people of the state are
not getting the assistance from the
doctors which the law requires. The
physicians of the country are requir-
ed to/report to the proper authorities
every case of tuberculosis or other
contagious or pestilential disease,
which they are called on to treat.
The fact that only 395 cases were
reported last year, when there; were
2,140 deaths form the disease, indi-
Gates that somebody is violating the
law. We are not advocating the in
dictment of anyone, but we are in
terested in having the doctors of
South Carolina head the fight for
driving tuberculosis from the con-
fines Of the state, and they must help
or stand convicted before their pa
tients and the public, no less than
before their own consciences, of
criminal breach of trust.
But it will do little good to report
these diseases unless the state makes
adequate provision for fighting the
disease, and that it will do when the
medical fraternity is alive to the situ-
alton. We spend hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars for the treatment of
the insane in our state every year.
No man envies these poor unfortun-
ates the amount of money spent for
their comfort. There is not man
in the state who is not willing that
every dollar actually necessary be
spent for them. But what shall we
say of the treatment of the state to-
wards another class of unfortunates
those afflicted with the great white
plague? Do we owe them nothing?
Are they not as dear to the people
at home, and are their lives and COM
fort not of as much interest to the
people of the state as the other uh-
fortunates. And insanity is not a
communicable disease. But tuber-
culosis is a constant enemy to the
health of the community, and needs
to be eradicated; and best of all it
can be prevented.
And we are spending our enegries
these days, and our thoughts, on the
perfection of the rural credits bill.
Should we not rather be thinking of
the rural health bill? Do the lives
of the people of the state, and does
the public health of the community
not contribute as much to the wealth
of the state as the ability to borrow
money? But while Georgia has a
tuberculosis camp accommodating
nearly 400, North Carolina, a camp
for $50, Maryland a camp for 1000,
we are contented to make scant pro-
vision for 80.
There is work to be done. The
physicians should lead and every
man who loves humanity should fol-
low.