The Washington herald., 1919-10-04
HEALTH OFFICERS OF THE UNITED
STATES ASK CONGRESS TO HURRY
THAT INFLUENZA INVESTIGATION

Last winters flu epidemic killed.
half a million people. men. women
and children.
The money cost amounted to over
$4,000. .00o.o 900.
There is a possibility OF another
outbreak
The American Medical Association
has asked Congress to appropriate
money for thorough investigation OF
influenza, its prevention and cure.
A bill has been introduced in Con-
gress to appropriate the money. II
is called the Harding-Fess bill. and
provides that the money shall be
spent under the direction Of the
United States Public Health Service.
But Congress has delayed and every
minute we come nearer the influ-
enza months-fall and winter.
Congress should appropriate
money for such an investigation" I"
writes Dr.IJohn Din Robertson.
Chicago's health commissioner
The Public Health Service shou,d
be given all the money it asks for.
for the investigation OF the disease
methods of prevention and cure =.
writes DR.. Royal S Copeland. New
York's health commissioner.
The investigation. methods Of pre-
Vention and cure. should be placed
In the hands Of the United States
Public Health Service. This service
should cooperate with state and
municipal authorities" writes DR.. E
H. Bullock. Kansas City's health
commissioner.
think Congress should appropri-
ate money for the Investigation of
the disease and methods of preyen-
tion and cure" writes DR.. VIM. H.
Sharpley. Denver's health officer.
Money for investigation with the
ultimate end Of preventing or curing
the disease is one of the best invest
ments this country could make"
writes DR.. H. L. lockwood, CIeye-
lands health commissioner, who con-
tlnues: In fact it would not be an
investment 1t should be looked upon
as an expense-something that must
be done. Our welfare as a nation de-
mands 1t. If We are constantly mem
aced oy such catastrophe as that
OF the influenza epidemic of 1858,
our sense OF security is destroyed and
fatalism becomes rampant. Fatal
ism produces a blight on civilization
which lowers morale, curtails en-.
deavor and in itself encourages epi-
denies"
Il. think that Congress should by
~ means provide for thorough-going
--vestigation of the whole problem
line federal government. We are
u row in any better position 10
ht the epidemic than we were last
7 a. and We know that whether IL re-
a.rs this year or some subsequent
year. we will certainly have a recur-
renee within a generation, and that
1t Is absolutely necessary now while
there is public interest in the SUBJ
ject that an investigation to insure
future control of the disease be in
stttuted," writes DR.. A. w. Freeman.
health commissioner of Columbus,
Ohio.
'In our Judgment" writes DR.. Eli
gene Lyman Fisk, medical director of
Life Extension Institute, New York.
there Is no more pressing or impor-
tant need before Congress than the
appropriation of money for combating
this plague. The probability of a re-
currencc OF this epidemic is greater
tnan the probability of a great war re-
curing within the next Is years. The
country Is confronted with a possible
death loss exceeding that which we
would be called upon to sustain in the
event that war did occur with a first
rate power. The death losses and the
suffering that result from such a
plague are more narrowing to the
families concerned than death in battle
or in war service.
ITO put it tersely, we are menaced
during the coming autumn and winter
by enemies far better equipped and
qualified to kill and MAIN our popu-
lation than Germany was at the
height Of her power.
The fact that this plague is, how
ever. just a plague. due to the action
OF m1cro-organisme as yet not identi-
ned, Is apparently regarded by many
legislators as relieving them of respon-
sibility for adequate action; in other
words, IL these micro-organisms were
large enough to be seen. IL they wore
steel helmets, gas masks and carried
bombs. there would be no hesitation in
sufficient millions Of
money to cover the work of organizing
3 defense"
Shall Congress appropriate money
for a ''fu" investigation?
These physicians. all commissioners
of health; answer yes:
DR.. s. J. Crumbine. Kansas State
Health Board; DIR. s. w. welch. Ala
bama State Health Board: DR., L NJ.