The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-08


here.
There are many other important
features of the public health service
In Richmond that should be improved.
1t is desired to give special emphasis
( here to two more points, one the neg
lect of health conditions among ne
groes, and the other the need for
more stringent control over contagious
and infectious diseases. The mortal
ity of the coDored race is higher than
that OF WIRES. The negro Is made
the prey OF quacks and takers who
are allowed to advertise exte Ssively
and to practice almost unh,ndered
among them. The city does not pro-
vide proper facilities and care either
for the entrance OF colored babies into
the world or for the care OF colored
children. 1t provides no public baths
for its colored population. 1t does
not provide as good facilities for the
care of the colored adult sick as for
the white adult sick, nor adequate
means for diagnosis and treatment OF
venereal diseases.
The vigor and intelligence mani
tested In combating cpidemtcs In
Richmod has been comm edable. But
there Is one serious weakness in the
method OF dealing with Contagious
diseases. The code now provides that
the physicians shall report contagious
diseases within twenty-four hours
after making diagnosis" The physi-
clan NAV not be able to make a dag
uosis for several days after his FIRST
visit and yet the case may be one Of
which the department should receive
Immediate information owing to the
likelihood OF the development of one
OF the common contagious diseases. In
the infantile paralysis epidemic last
year the physicians were required to
report all suspected cases even before
actual diagnosis was made and the
department was highly successful In
handling the epidemic and kept the
number OF cases well within bounds
This requirement of reporting all sus-
pected cases Immediately should be
extended to all suspected cases OF
contagious disease and the depart
ment should also add a number of
diseases to its list of reportable cases
as suggested in the report.
Several Administrative Changes Rec
commended.
Among the general administrative
changes recommended are:
That the department OF health he
! reorganized 10 include only the fol-
lowing divisions. each under the su-
pervision OF chief:
l. A division of records.
2 \ division OF preNentahle dis
eases
3. A division OF food inspection.
4. division Of sanitary inspection.
3. division OF public health nurs-
ing.
6. A division OF laboratory.
7. A division OF public health edu-
cation.
That an advisory public health
council be created by the health offs
Ger. such council to comprise repre-
sentativss OF the various public health
and n~ciai agencies OF the city,
That II extension OF public health
service is desired by the city of Rich
mond, it's citizens give proper consid-
GRAFTON to the necessity OF adequately
financing such extension Of service:
That the chief executive OF the
health department be required peril
odicalIy (preferably- monthly TO sub
NIT complete and detailed written re-
ports to the administrative head of
the welfare work OF the city relative
10 the " ork performed, work on hand
and work proposed:
That in the event OF the continu-
alton Of the administrative board as
the administrative head Of the de-
partment of health. more considera-
ton be given by this board to the
recommendations of the health otficer
relative TO the appointment OF health
department enploFes;
That offices Of the department DC
rearranged SO as better 10 economic
space. promote efficiency OF ONCE work
and permit more satisfactory hand
ling OF visitors to the department.
Prcventabie Diseases.
Additional recommendations re-
Rardtng the contrct over preveptapis
diseases are:
That n division OF preyentahle dis
cases be created under the supervis-
ion OF chief who should be the medt-
cal inspector of the department. He
should be charged with the investi-
cation. supervision and control OF pre-
ventable diseases In the homes and
in the institutions OF the city, includ-
ing the contagious disease pavilion at
the city home and smallpox and leper
isolation hospitals
That. following the termination OF
cases OF communicable disease which
ordinarily confer immunity. the health
department issue TO the discharged
patient. whether child or adult. GER
tilcate 10 the effect that he has had
the disease and been properly dts
That effort be made TO secure re-
ports from physicians and mtdwives
relative TO the prevalence of opthal-
-aennAtcrum-l!n tacttxe- JUG
tivitts of infants). and that the CO.
operation OF the state health authort-
ties he solicited IN requiring physt-
clans and midwives 10 certify upon
birth certificates that they have used
proper measures to prevent this dis
ease,
That effort be made TO secure bet
ter control OF venereal diseases by
I Reports of venereal disease from
physicians;
q The provision of evening clinics
for venereal disease patients;
g. An educational program on the
prevention OF veuereal disease;
!. The elimination OF venereal dis
ease quacks, takers and patent -nedl-
cines
That for the further prevention of
typhoid fever IN Richmond active