The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-27
Claim That No Such Serious Sit
uatiOn as Has Been Pic
tured Exists.
SENATE OF GEORGIA
PASSES RESOLUTIONS
nenOuncing the Report of a Pei
as ''Damning."
(By The Associated Prsss).

(By The Associated Pressl.
WASHINGTON, July 26.-Quick re-
sronse was made today to President
Ut rdings call on the public health SER
Vie and the Red Cross TO meet the re-
ported threat OF a pellagra epidemic in a
IL ge section OF the cotton belt.
Officials Of the two agencies set inn
rladiately to work in an endeavor to carry
out the presidents request and late in
tle day held a joint conference. Officials
Of eight southern states made their re-
sponse in the form of a protest that no
such serious situation as has been pic-
tu-ed exists
surgeon General Cummins and DIR. Jo-
Sc n Goldberger, pelIagra experts of the
puplic health service met in conference
wth DR.. Livingston Farrand. chairman
ard other Red Cross officials. The ses-
sion was quite lengthy and no informa-
ton as to conclusions reached was dis
closed. Dr. Cumming stated that he
would make a report tomorrow to the
president.
rhe response from the south was wide
sp cad, and varied. The Georgia senate
Iassed a resolution denouncing the re-
port OF a pellagra epidemic as "damning;
the secretary Of the state board Of health
declared the disease showed no increase;
tia Macon chamber of commerce tele-
g. sphed a protest to the white house.
! 1rida's state health officer contended
i state showed a decrease. The state
Va ird OF health OF Alabama also claimed
q decrease. The Tennessee health board
4 5orted nothing unusual" South Car
q IA admitted an increase but no "seni-
u nine' and contended there was moth
lar alarming" Arkansas reported moth
s. alarming" and Louisiana reported a
&c rease. Mississippi Acknowledged twice
~ ms Na tfc ms 10 CT httt I4S-
d med an epidemic or a famine
n all cases the state health officials
took vigorous issue with the reports of
the public health service which has pub
icy estimated that due TO impoverished
dict forced upon them by depression of
the cotton market at least one hundred
thousand persons in the cotton belt would
have pellegra and that ten per cent Of
them win die. DIR. Cumming said to-
nisht, however. that the public health
vice would stand by its figures.
Acting upon letter from Senator Dial,
rt South Carolina, which called his at
tention to published reports of tho pub
ne health service announcement, Presi-
dent Harding wrote Surgeon General
cumming and DR.. Livington Farrand,
chairman OF the central committee of the
rod Cross, urging them TO take appro-
rriate steps TO meet the situation de-
oribed to him as being fraught with
'aemi-famine" and threat Of an epidemic
ef a ravaging disease.
No sooner had the presidents letters
tcen published than protests and denials
hegan 70 pour down.
public health service officials pointed
oct that their reports only gave warning
that unless something were done to-
remedy a particular kind II semi-starva-
tlon now said to be prevailing, many
q this from pellagra would follow.
After setting out that the depression
G the cotton market and conditions gem
crally have reduced thousands o. persons
tc a limited diet which produces pellagra,
the public health service report said:
IT takes about five months for this
Il rticular kind of semi-starvation before
NJ llagra begins 10 manifest itself, but
& er that 1t does so with appalling rap
i1 " The second stage is now well
under way
Senator Dial in his letter, sent under
II te OF July is to Surgeon General Cum
= ng, and referred by the latter to the
president, said:
1t has come TO my attention that be-
n nse OF the cotton situation in the south,
Cee to the low price OF staple. with the
consequent underfeeding of many of the
srialier farm tenants. that there is like
Ig to be much suffering and disease
a nsed by pellagra in that section in the
rear future This information reached
ms in newspaper accounts which quote
50 ar department. II these statements
ars correct, may not call your immedi
rte attention to the great necessity that
ez sts for not only informing the people OF
w at may happen but also for taking
81 ch steps as may be necessary to pre-
tnt and combat such situation as
would arise should this disease again
a. Sc hold in the south.
I was under the impression that with
tbs stamping out OF pallegra few years
afo. the hospital at Spartanburg, s. C.,
fad been discontinued or was only per-
ming part OF its former work. How
q er this may be, L desire to call your
n ention to the great necessity of taking
such steps now as may appear proper
4 prevent a repetition Of this disease
in that locality"
Senator Dial said today he was not an
q lrmist and understood that a pellagra
q idemic did not exist but might be ex-
rected under the conditions prevalent,
epecially among the small cotton plant
c3s
Senator Dial said that he knew many
iaoorers. who have been laid off. work |
men and small farmers We're being forced
70 economize on their foodstuffs Due
to the enforced eating Of corn products
fcontinued on Page Three)