Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-22
OFFER SPECIAL COURSE
| IN RURAL. SANITATION
prevention Of Communicable Diseases
Planned AS Important War
Measure.
SHORTAGE OF PHYSICIANS
|'ew Localities Havo Wcll-Organizcd
Public Health Forces, and Loss to
State Is Immense Will Train
Health Workers.

Tho woman's committee. National
ouncil OF Defense. Virginia Division.
Inflated with the State Council OF De-
ense. Is perfecting plans whereby it
VIII oHer to groups OF women through
ut the State courses In rural santa
ION and communicable disease, which
"iH be planned under the direction OF
ne state Board OF Health, in order
meet the serious conditions pre-
'ipitatcd by the war. With the large
lumber OF nurses and doctors leaving
he State for the army, a serious con-
htion has arisen in many communities.
ma dangerous cpidcmics might readily
occur.
The classes offered by the woman's
committee Will deal exclusively with
problems already evident. 1t is thought
nat should the shortage OF physicians
gro" even more serious than 1t Is at
present, further courses in simple
measures for emergencies might be
arranged.
In the the opinion OF the State Board
l health. the only protection for the
health OF the State with the existing
serious shortage Of physicians will lie
pm the general education Of the public
IN the measures necessary for the pre-
fention of sickness. There are 10000
cases or preventable disease in the
state each year. Many of these are
typhoid. and require the constant at
tendance OF physicians In one com
lnunity In the state two cases Of
typhoid are unable to secure medical
attendance. Under war conditions. this
VIII grow 10 be a common situation
FEW COMMUNITIES HAVE
PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS
Very few Of the communities of tho
state have public health organizations
whose function would be to control
communicable diseases. Three of the
90 counties OF the State have full
'ime health officers. In many Of the
communities sum OF money is APP
|propriated for the poor. and out of
this the county physician is paid n
small sum, ranging from $500 to $500
HIS duties comprise the care OF the
pm poor. visiting the county institu-
tlons and supervising public health
conditions. SO little concern is fell,
regarding community health that in
ono county in 1915 sum was appro-
|prlatcd for incidcntals among which
public health was classed with the
expense OF sheep. the destruction OF
lures
With such lack Of local organiza-
ton. it has seemed to the woman's
committee. as stated by its chairman.
mat II III imperative that the individual
shall be prepared to protect himself
and others from communicable disease
The public health committee offers
classes in public health 10 groups Of
women under the direction Of the state
Board Of Health. Each class must
range in numbers from six TO twenty
hEc; must have leader and "A secr.-
tary. Upon application TO the woman s
|Q3rnmittee, National Council OF De-
Tense. Virginia Division. at the State
Capitol. bulletins Of the State Board
OF Health Will be furnished the class.
together with report blanks upon
which each class will be required to
report the attendance nj each meeting
and the subject discussed. They may
mt the same time ask any questions
which have arisen during tho discus
sion, and these questions viii be an
swered through the cooperation OF tho
State Board Of Health.
EXAMINATION REQUIRED
AT END OF COURSE
At the completion of the course an
examination viii be required. The cx-
animation questions viii be prepared
under tho direction of the State Board
OF Health. In order TO handle tho ex-
animation papers without undue bur
den, the public health committee will
have representatives in each city of
the State, whose duty 1t will be TO
interest committees of doctors in aid
ing with the work on the papers.
Through the courtesy of the State
Library, supplementary reading will
DO furnished in the form OF the usual
travelling libraries. Four such Libraries
OF about ten volumes each will be pro-
rided. and Will be circulated among
the classes upon the request Of the
leader OF each class. This addition TO
tho material in, the bulletins already
prepared by the State Board of Health
will furnish ample reference and col
lateral reading.
1t has been said by officers of the
State Board OF Health that the indi-
ridual study OF communicable disease
caused by the fright over infantilc
paralysis last summer resulted in a