The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-29
VIRGINIA NOT YET
N RIGHTFUL PLACE
Cio~e Organization Necessary To Bring
State TO Front In Fight
Against Tuberculosis.

If Virginia carries out the program
I laid down for her by the Tuberculosis
/ Commission, she should come from
her present position far down in the
ranks and become one of the lead
ers in the fight against tuberculosis
according to Miss Agnes ID. Randolph,
secretary of the Virginia Anti-Tuber-
cuiosis Association. who has just re-
turned from New York. where she at
tended the tuberculosis Institute.
This institute was conducted by the
National Association for the study and
prevention OF tuberculosis and was
under the leadership OF their secre-
tary, Or. PHILIP Jacobs.
The twenty-five members of the
class represented fourteen States of
the Union, with one representative
from France. who has been sent TO
this country to study American meth
DDS. Lectures were given by experts
/ in every phase of tuberculosis work,
the lecturers coming from various
sections 70 meet The class. All of the
institutions in the vicinity of New
York were visited under the direction
Of the managers.
In the class room discussions were
held Of conditions in the States repre-
scented by the workers New York.
New Jersey, Ohio and Wisconsin, are
well organized We have no associa-
ton in the State which approxima ties
the work done in these States" said
Miss Randolph. II should say that
this was our weakest point" Many
OF the States seemed TO have grasped
ftnc fact that the prevention of any
disease as widespread as tuberculosis
! can only be accom- plishea by a close
/ knit organization of all of the people.
! The burden must be borne by the gov
eminent of course This Is recognized
eFeryW here In the communities
which have done any good work, how
ever, IL has been accomplished through
the proddinK Of the officials by the
| people organized to stamp out the
disease.
! Various cities have paid secretaries,
who organize all agencies at work in
allied fields and carry on continuous
educational work. II did not mind
hearing all about New York" said
Miss Randolph, but / wished l had
a strong Richmond association to
quote every time / heard the Atlanta
secretary tell of some of her good
work, She Ia q competent woman
and has accomplished great deal.
l told Of Pine Camp. open-air schools
and the dtspensaries. We really have
more done in such work than Atlanta,
but IT lacks the quality OF democracy.
Atlanta, Newark. Wilmington Del,
Cincinnati and others have the beo-
pie organized to aid In the work at
every angle. After all, we don't want
to leg1slate health into people any
| more than we want TO legislate morals
into them. Let them stand behind the
Legislation with "A strong democratic
| organization as they do in some other
| matters.
New York and Massachusetts, lead
in the matter of local camps We are
all right on the laws in the matter
of local hospitals. The commission
got these through. But we haven,
built our first camp yet. Danville and
Richmond still stand alone in this
work, New York has hospitals In
| thfrty-two OF her fifty counties OF
course, population and money run 10
different decimals in Virginia. but we
ought to be able TO get two or three
counties to live at peace with one
another In this matter, and we ought
to get sensible local hospitals built as
rapidly as possible. France has ap-
propriated a goodly sum since the war
for the thorough organization OF
France in tuberculosis work, since al.
ready terrible numbers OF men are
back from the front with consump-
ton We would lots rather build hos
pitfalls for the people we now have, and
not wait TO be driven to Ii by any
| such emergency"