The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-15
MANY
AGENCIES FOR HEALTH

That the American Red Cross.
through the medium of its peace-time
program for the improvement OF pub
lie health, may be the means of CO.
ordinating the many agencies which
for years have been striving to elimi-
nate and prevent sickness and disease,
was one of the statements made by
DR. Livingston Farrand. chairman OF
the Red Cross cent? al committee, IN
an address at Red Gross headquarters
on "Wednesday. August 27th.-
DR.. Farrand's remarks were ad-
dressed TO the directors of Red Cross
departments headquarters and
managers 81 the fourteen divisions of
the organization who had assem- leG
to discuss plans for the third Red
Cross roll call to be held Move III Der
2 to II. DR.. Farrand said In part;
No man can say just how any or
sanfzation or any country can solve
fevery particular problem that con-
fronts it. All the discussion that you
now hear about the problems OF re-
construction and readjustment means
that there is no wisdom in existe nee
that can solve the fundamental prob
lens of the world as they offer them
selves at present Nc organization can
speak dogmatically. We can see only
the next step ahead and we do not in
tciit W plunge pillutS INTO tIk AuLuIe
hoping to land on our feet.
For US OF the Red Cross it is our
duty to contribute the best we have
to improving general fundamental
conditions throughout the country.
conditions without the Improvement
or which the solution of our problems
cannot be reached. How can we con-
tribute to the betterment of these
fundamental conditions? That ques-
ton brings us straight back TO this
fact, that the war has accentuated
and sharpened our realization of -cer~
tain conditions tha. existence of which
mas for centuries caused the distress
of the world For the greatest CON
factor III q list xrtins the hap
piness of mankind reduce in the last
instance to questions of physical we'll
being. To problems of health and dis
ease. A large portion of the disease
OF the world Is prevertable disease
Nations have been coming to a point
where they realize that fact, and they
are turning---tf1e whole world is turn
ing---to organizations of every kind
for help in the prevention of prevent
able disease. There has been ne hest
tation in reaching the conclusion that
the great problem of the world Is the
problem of disease.
This is not talk. it is fact. We
have been known for years by science.
by medical science, are being realized
by the people. And the question the
people are everywhere asking In
What are we to dor They are look-
ing for help; they are looking for
guidance; and they naturally look to
the organizations that are built upon
such basis and have been guided in
such way as TO heget confidence
And the .orga nization In this country
that Is best fitted to take the leader
ship in this great movement this
thrilling, inspiring movements the
Red Cross For that reason the
American Red Cross is not going to
turn its back on its responsibilities. 1t
own question is What can we do to
accomplish this task
For twenty years. in the United
States. stimulated by the enlightened
interest Of individuals here and there
In the country. there have been grow
ing up movements for the prevention
Of this or that preventabie disease
You know about the movement for
the prevention Of tuberculosis; for
the control OF cancer; for the welfare
OF children; for the prevention of
venerea disease and many others.
One after the other has come along,
drawing into 1t the group of people
particularly Interested IN that prob
lem, In the meantime, there has also
been growing up an appreciaticn OH
what Is a fundamentally important
poipt--namely, that the responsibility
In the last instance for the prevention
of disease is in itself an official and
public responsibility.
We hear people say continually.
Why does not our government. why
does not congress, take the leader
ship--legislate and provide for the ac-
copplishment Of these things that we
know ought to be done?' Congress
cannot do II because in the United
States the states are sovereign. The
United States government has not the
power to- do this thing. We must
look to our states: we must look to
our municipalities and local authori- |
tiss. The Aght against disease. the |
fight for the improvement of health. |
Is local night. ! am emphasizing this
because you will see very clearly that
for this reason again the Red Cross |
becomes peculiarly fitted to act in the /
circu instances. We are organized in
such way as to meet this difYiculty.
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