Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1919-11-07
HEAL TIL BOARD PLANS
TO CARE FOR LEPERS
TO TAKE CENSUS OF CASES NOW
IN STATE.
All INDECENT Cases Will Be Looked AT
ter-Allowance For Subsistence
JACKSONVILLE, Nov. -

JACKSONVILLE, Nov. 7-Ade-
quateprovision for Florida lepers, was
made by the state board of health in
session here yesterday, when an
amendment was added to the law re-
stricting such persons to their premi-
SEES, allowing every INDECENT case IN
the state So day for livelihood. The
allowance will be made where there
is certifcation from county authori.
ties that the afflicted person is indi.
gent
The defect in the law was discov-
cred by DIR. Ralph N. Greene, state
health officer, when he took steps
through the county police authorities
to assure the restriction of the six
teen cases of leprosy in Florida of
which the board has record. 1t then
developed that while the law was de-
AiIiRIS Will ASSdlu w ColllllleIlHIlN, pro-
viding that "all persons affected with
leprosy shall be continuously confin-
ed upon their home premises and kept
of the public thoroughfares and out
Of public vehicles or transportation"
it lost sight of INDECENT lepers.
Attacking the. situation from an hu-
mantarian staGdpoint, Joe E. Earman,
president, and Ed. NJ. Earnest and J.
z. Graves, the members of the state
beard of health, took the position that
while it was essential as a health
safeguard to confne the lepers to their
premises, it also was necessary to
consider the matter of livelihood for
INDECENT cases.
Realizing, however, that the leper's
problem must have consideration 9TH
er than the financial provision, the
board is arranging for medical atten-
ton for those afflicted. The district
health officers are being requested to
look up the cases of leprosy on rec
ord in their respective districts and
to visit them regularly. City haelth
boards also will be asked to lend their
assistance, until more proper provis-
10 nfor the care and segregation can
be made.
The board has arranged with the
United States public health service to
send an expert ON leprosy to Florida
who will visit the lepers and study
the conditions in their hines, and ex-
anime members of their families to
see if there are other cases develop
ing.
DR.. Greene has records of only six
teen cases in Florida, and one of these
is rported to have died and another
10 have left the state. These re
ports are being investigated. He is
urging on the medical profession and
the citizens of the state the vital i'm,
portance of reporting every leprosy
case of which they know, and is re,
questing any one who knows of a case
IN Jacksonville to report it either tC
DT. W. mcdonnell, city health officer
or himself.
DR.. Greene will take immediate
steps to determine the status of ev.
cry case Of leprosy in Florida, and tt
make the 81 day allowance for indi
gent cases. He has directed commu
n,cations to the sheriffs of all Flori
ia counties calling their attention t
me state legislation requiring the
county police authorities to enforce
The restriction Of lepers.
Trachoma Hospital for Florida.
Another important act of the STATE
board of health yesterday was ar
rangements for the establishment il
Florida of a hospital to treat tracho
ma. The institution will be estab
Ashed with the assistance Of the Unit
Ell States public health service. Tit
latter organization has agreed to pro
vide the necessary facilities for treat
n.ent and the physicians, if the count.
authorities will give the building an
the state provide funds for the main
tenance.
Under the present plans of the stat
board of health, the hospital will re
main in one section until trachom'
has been stamped out and will thel
| be moved to another affected com
r1unity until the entire state has bee
1 freed of the disease.