The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-01
REMARKABLE YEAR TO
HEALTH DEPARTMENT

year elected the same chief health
officer.
In consequence of this. the mem
bers of the Board of Health had grad
ually become thoroughly familiar
with the work of the department. and
the closest and most cordial relations
existed between the members and the
chief health officer. Richmond should
always hold in grateful remembrance
these men: DR.. w T. Oppanhimer.
president: Mr.. James r, Gordon, DR..
r. ID. Garcin, DR.. NJ d. Hoge. Jr,,
and Mr. James f Phillips, Jr.--for
the splendid service they performed
for Richmond for ten full years, I'M
selishly and without compensation.
While the loss of the old Board of
Health was deeply regretted. the
work of the Health Department dur
ing the last six months of 1916 has
progressed most satisfactorily under
the Administrative Board. This board
has taken tho position from the start
that the work of the Health Depart
ment has to he done by one especial
ly trained for the job. They have
therefore given the chief health off,
Ger the greatest possible latitude, and
the work has not suffered.
Seventeen Paralysis Victims.
In July the attention of the entire
country was aroused by reports OF
a most unusual epidemic OF infantile
paralysis in New York city. The rap
id spread of this disease. its extra
ordinary fatality, the serious condi-
ton OF paralysis so often left even
after recovery from the acute symp-
toms all combined to create alarm
everywhere. But the chief factor in
the fear which swept the country was
1yy,o Of
the means whereby this disease
spread.
The chief health officer promptly
reported the state of affairs to the
Administrative Board and was by
them empowered to take such steps
as he deemed best to protect Rich
mond from this disease. An emer-
gency appropriation of $4,000 was
granted by the City Council for this
purpose:
During the summer and fan severn
teen cases of infantile paralysis were
reported in Richmond OF these the
first case and one other were direct
from the epidemic centers. These
two cases and one other died; the
rest recovered. Just how much good
was accomplished by the extraordi-
nary measures which were adopted
and enforced by the Health Depart
ment cannot be stated. but ii is a
fact that in no single instance was
there reason to suspect that any OF
our Richmond cases infected a sec
ond child.
Much Typhoid Fever
During July and August Richmond
had more typhoid fever than in any
year since 1909. The history OF this
outbreak Is too long to discuss here
Suffice it to say that. while the source
of trouble was recognized in connec-
ton with number of small groups
of cases. there remained many cases
which could not be satisfactorily ex-
planned. For this reason, the people
were advised TO take such precautions
as would protect them whatever the
cause.
On the advice of the Health De-
partment. thousands OF citizens took
the typhoid vaccination. The public
was advised to boil all drinking water
at first. although the water could not
be definitely blamed. neither could IL
be completely exonerated. In order
TO eliminate all further uncertainty
in regard to the water supply. the
Administrative Board authorized the
immediate installation of a more tt-
fective apparatus for adding liquid
chlorine to the water.
With the assistance of Richard Mes
ser. sanitary engineer for the State
Health Department. this was done
within two days. Through the kind