The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-03
HEALTH BILL VITAL
| T0STA7E WELFARE,
SAYS DR.. BOWLING
Health Expert and Native OF
Alabama Urges Adoption
of the Measures-Cites
Army Statistics

The welfare of Alabama demands the
adontion of the health acts now pending
before the state Legislature, according
to DR.. Oscar Bowling, president OF the
Louisiana state board of health. Dr.
Bowling, a native of Alabama, and one i
of the leading health experts OIL the
south. in a letter to The Age-Herald
strongly urges favorable action on the
health measures now pending.
He cites figures tending to show that
the appropriation asked for the work
is extremely low and that similar seas-
ures have resulted in vastly improved
health conditions in other states. the
figures compiled by the war depart
ment among draft men show a serious
condition in Alabama in the matter OF
venereal diseases, according to Or
| Bowling, who quotes from the recoros
| to show the urgent need for improve
| ment in these conditions. The health
bills now pending, in his opinion, point
the way to relief.
The letter follows:
To the Editor of The Herald:
AS native of Alabama, 1 can not
too strongly indorse the health acts now
pending before your Legislature, which
are so vital to the welfare of Alabama
and it's citizens
/ note an appropriation of $150,0 600 is
asked for Perhaps this seems large
sum. Let us analyze Alabama mas
2395,570 inhabitants population 1sls).
IF s239 900 in round numbers were APP
| IL a
per capita for the protection of health ;
$3.50 900 means less tthan cents per in
diyidual. 1t is conceded that good
health work can be done for so cents
per capita and no less. 1t is also con-
coded that a 50-cent per capita apro-
priation would be the best financial IN
Ivestment that any state could make, the
returns being greater efficiency less
sickness and longer lives. For the com
mercial prosperity of the state and pro-
motion of the health of its citizens
nothing is more important than good
vital statistics law thoroughly en-
forced.
The model law is now in operation ir
Al states. In Louisiana. 10 years age
when / first became president OF the
the state board of health, the system o.
| collection Of births and deaths was the
| same as that now in Alabama. l
proved complete failure. In 1914 thu
regulations were changed and new
system put into effect At the regu
lar session of the legislature in 1918 tn
model law was enacted and IN Novem
Der, 1918, Louisiana was admitted int
the registration area for deaths, Tn
fifth of the southern states to recelv
this recognition and the first of tn
states in the southwest The adoptio
and enforcement of the model law put
a state on the health map. 1t is
financial asset and it implies effectiv
measures for the protection of tn
health of the citizens of the state.
understand also that the appropria
ton bill carries a section Tor TN
financing of control of venereal dis
cases. The records show this is one
Alabama's imperative needs. l regrt
that the figures indicate this but fact
are facts Out of SO states and terri
tories, Alabama had the uneviable dis
tinction of the highest records
yenereal disease cases in the first mi
lion draft, the ratio being 1854 case
In the 1000; this means that one OF
every ten men examined mad u
yenereal infection. Virginia and Flo
ida were close seconds, having 1891 ar
$3.50, respectively. For syphilis, All
bama had the greatest number of a
the states, the figures being 22.o
Florida, Kentucky and Mississippi ha'
ing the next highest numbers. In II
records of the second million, Alaban
was seven from the highest, Florit
and Georgia having the greatest nur
bers, respectively.
Birmingham is tremendously int
ested in the campaign against venere
diseases for it's record shows 1857 p
cent infected. In other words, one mi
out of every five of the second milli
had the infection.
syphilis is the greatest killing dl
ease" The standard statistics just pu
lished by the American Social Hygie
association show 222 deaths to the 10
900 from syphilis, while tuberculos
which many consider our greatest d
ease course, has to it's credit only 14l
deaths.
know of no stronger argument
proper financial support and the
operation of the citizens in the esta
lishment of protective health measui
than the facts stated above. l belle
if widely known the acts will not OF
be passed by the legislature, but tn
enforcement will be urged by the CT
zens. Very truly yours,
OSCAR BOWLING