The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1918-10-04
STATE COUNCIL
OF DEFENSE TO
MAKE fight ON
TUBERCULOSIS

Hon. Ruftin &. Pleasant,
Governor and Chairman OF the |
Stare Council of Defense,
Baton Rouge, La.
Nv Dear Governor:
Among the many measures that
the State Council of Defense should
take note of, not the least ii lmpor-
lance IL the sinister relation OF tuber-
culosis as war problem; the fact
that the disease is ever present and
annually gathers its awful toll, alone
would warrant immediate steps to
limit its encroachment, but the ne
cessity therefor is accentuated by its
relation to the war, at a time when
our Government is calling upon the
states to conserve every foot ton Of
human energy It will be of no avail
to uour into the war chest billions OF
treasure and millions of men unless
the leak is stopped that lets out an
nually in the United States 100000
human units, the majority in he
wears of their greatest economic value
to the State. 1t is significant that a
large per cent of the draft was turn
ed down by local examining boards
on account of tuberculosis, and that
two per cent of those who passed said
board, on later examination by more
intensive measures by the Medical
Army Examining Boards, were re-
iected on account Of the disease, a
wise procedure, since a tuberculosis
unit is an unfit fighting unit.
: Now while it is true that those OF
t our gallant soldiers who are over
= seas, reached there in state OF
physical perfection, that has excited
the admiration of our Allies, it i:
also true that when subjected to con
/ slant exposure, trench diseases
wounds, gas and other vicissitudes O
e war, their natural powers Of resist
d ance will be lowered, and they ma.
d become victims Of the infection, 8
n prevalent in the war area that tn
French War office invaded $50, 90
French soldiers on account OF the IL
lection.
D This infected units, white an
black, returning home, as we truS
lie and pray they will, impose upon u
r the obligation of affording them e'
n cry facility for the hygienic, dieteti
a. treatment requisite and necessary
IN re-establish their health and usefu
III ness to the State, or at best, Smoot
n the thorny passage to the grave; o'
it imposes another duty, and that
he to educate their families and Il
he communities wherein the latter resit
lie in the simple lessons of preventio
C. This is the aim of the National al
State Anti Tuberculoiss League. tt
mt latter is uow organizing parish al
he ward units for the purpose of carr
a ing on this educational propagand
Of through the schools and over tn
the shoulders of the pupils it hop
to reach the adult population of t
state.
pa The revenues to carry on q
90 work are obtained from volunta
contributions and the sale of r
II. Cross Christmas seals, but the lat
have been withdrawn from the m
ket this year. in compliance with
wishes of the President and the
ahs appropriated lump sum for al
tuberculosis educational work; Il
$3.50 isiana's quota will be small, as il
based upon the Red Cross Christr
seal sales for 1917. Later in
year there will be an intensive dr.
for Red Cross membership, part
pated in by both the Red Cross
TUBERCULOSIS Leagues.
It is to be hoped that the Pa
Councils of Defense will not o.
Hook this important work, and furt
in every possible way the efforts
the Red Cross to enlarge it's m
bership and aid the Anti-Tubereul
Ieague in it's educational propagaI
While the attention of the Cour
of Defense is primarily called to
among the important war probe
they should not lose sight OF the
that it is also of vital importa
aside from that phase Of the quest
the ravages of the disease in
child race, self preservation sh
induce us to protect our homes
the infection that may be carrie
servants drawn from this source.
educational propaganda, there
should reach the colored schools
churches of the state.
A