Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-03
WAR DECLARED ON
"SECRET' DISEASES
Health Officer Flanagan An
nounces New Policy of /,
Department.
PHYSICIANS COOPERATE
Injected Persons Must Not Cook
Food, Nurse Children or
Serve as BARRIERS.
PHYSICIANS COOPERATE


cent months for many reasons. Of GER
tain secret" diseases among the male
population OF the country. the Rich
fnond Health Department is planning a
comprehensive campaign TO fight these
communicable Diseases Federal au-
thoritics, in view OF the serious pro
portions renercal diseases have reached.
nave urged the greatest attention 10
this matter and an intensive cam
paign viii be conducted in this city.
Army camps are said to have been
responsible ia certain degree to the
increase in communicable diseases,
which are declared by health authori-
ties TO be steadily increasing in mum :
bcr. Plans for the movement have
just been outlined by DR.. Roy *. Flan-
nagan. Chief Health officer, and Will
be started at once under regulations
recently promulgated by the Admins
trat!ve Board at his request. These
regulations require physicians to re-
port all patients applying TO them for
treatment, and druggists arc required
to report 30 tie Health Department
the sale OF all remedies designed 20
cure these diseases
AID OF ALL PHYSICIANS
AND DRUGGISTS ENLISTED
Details Of the general campaign and
the necessary health regulations to as
sure the success OF the movement in
reducing the great volume of the sew
eral diseases have been under consid-
Grafton by DIR. Flanagan for some
time. The regulations adopted by the
Administrative Board. which became
effective as OF March !. were drawn by
him for this purpose. while he has en-
listed the aid OF all physicians and
druggists in tho movement The cam
paisn is radical departure in public
health matters in Richmond. but one Of
vital Importance in coping with n Sit
uation which is declared to have
reached serious proportions.
Richmond's regulations were drafted
after the Australian law dealing with
communicable diseases, although far
less stringent, but are believed TO be
sufficiently drastic at this time ma
tcrially toNreducc the volume Of suf-
-ferins. Several days ago the Federal
authorities requested Mayor George
Ainslic to take proper steps TO reduce
this evil. and when tho matter was
d.. .cusscd with DR.. Flanagan, it was
found that his plan OF campaign was
made by the government.
EXTENSIVE PUBLICITY
AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN
Briefly. Dr. Flannag5n has planned
al extensive publicity and educational
Campaign dealing with the diseases, tha
cures. clinics TO be established by the
Health department and details as to
how treatment may be had. The dc
partment's regulations provide that
physicians shall report all such cases
TO tho department, but the name o. the
patient is not reported. serial num-
bers being used. However. should n
patient discontinue treatment before
being pronounced cured then the physi-
clan will report the name TO the Health
Department, and should drastic action
be necessary. the patient will he placed
in the contagious ward OF the City
Home.
Druggists are required to keep a
record OF all sales Of so-called remedies
for these communicable diseases, to-
gether with the name Of the purchaser,
and must report monthly the number OF
sales made In this way the Health
Department will be kept fully informed
as TO the extent of the several diseases
in Richmond Details for the opening
of an enlarged clinic at the Medical
College of Virginia arc being worked
out. Such clinic will be available in
the next few days.
NO UNDUE PUBLICITY
GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS
There will be no undue publicity i'll
the fight to reduce the diseases, either
in reporting the cases to the Health
Department or in treatment at the
clinics. and all the protection possible
will be afforded patients. The depart
mcnt viii not receive the name OF the
patient unless lie discontinucs treat
ment before his physician pronounces
him cured, but the regulations will he
rigidly enforced in protection Of the
public health.
Probably the most important fea turc
OF the campaign. for many reasons. is
the plan of the Health Department to
make free blood tests of all domest tics
employed in households. and especially
Of negroes intrusted with the nursing
of small children. IIousehoiders may
make the employment of such help con-
ditional upon the examination Of the
Health Department and in this way
DR.. Flanagan believes he can ma
tcrally reduce tuberculosis and other
diseases.
ITo called attention yesterday to the
extensive practice among nurses of
kissing children. Yet tho parents of
these children, no said, in majority
OF cases know nothing of the physical
condition OF the nurses. They may be
infected with tuberculosis or any Of
several other diseases, with the germs
secrctcd in their mouths and readily
transferred i'm kissing. The general OBJ
scrvancc of such requirements as will
be suggested by the Health Department
will substantially improve health con-
tiitions in tho city.
Preliminary 10 the general campaign.
which will be started in the next few
days, the Health Department is now
sending to physicians and druggists
the regulations recently adopted by the
Administrative Board at the request of
DIR. Flanagan.
These regulations are as follows:
'All druggists and other retail deal