The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-08-05
NO FAMINES
OR EPIDEMICS
IN THE SOUTH.
SAYSREPORT
Health Officers In Con-
ference With Federal
Authorities Resent All
Implication That South
Needs Charitable AS
sistance But Discuss
Situation Frankly

Washington, Aug. 5.-Denial that
there is 'a condition approaching FAM
inc or plague in the south was made
today in report unanimously adopt
ed by the health officials OF southern
states i'll conference with Cummings, OF
the United States health bureau on
,he Pellagra situation.
The report held that statements err
rOneOus and misleading had been
made to the public. After brisk dis
cuSSiOn the statement incorporated In
the report prepared by the committee
hat 1--WE do not regard the situation
in any sense more serious at preSeht
than during the past several years, =
was eliminated. Another clause. that
"there is no occasion for extending
charitable measures for the relief Oi
conditions so far as any state Is con-
cerned where pellagra is prevalent"
was also stricken out. Dr.. w. ). RAN
kin OF North Carolina cOntended i
would be a reflection OH the south to
make any reference to the possibility
OF charitable relief.
Drafting Report
Washington, Aug. 5.-Health Off
cials from II southern states in con-
ference heree with Surgeon General
Cummings. of the public health serv-
ice regarding the pellagra situation
today were drafting a report of con-
ditions in the south and recommends
tions of what should be done
Preparation of the report was in
the hands of committee of five ana
was to be adopted by the conference
before it was made public.
DR.. James A. Hayne, South Caro-
lima, health commissioner, a member
of the committee. said the report
would hold there was not a scintilla
of truth in charges that near famine
exists in the south or that pellagra
has increased there to any appre-
ciable extent
A resolution providing for the sup
port of the health authorities and the
people they represent in the south to
constructive program which will CO.
ordinate all federal public health and
welfare activities in one department, "
was adopted by the conference.
The resolution expressed to the
president appreciation of tho health
authorities of his interest in the pub
HcdllH dId eHuOISSu lHe eueCllNS
administration of the public health
service by Surgeon General Cumming.
The conference especially urges,
says the resolution, that the public
health service mobilize all other pub
lie health agencies, especially the
farm and home demonstration
agencies of the state agricul-
tural schools and the depart
ment of agriculture in carrying into
the rural homes of the country the
/ practical necessity for a better bal
anced diet which should always in
clude milk or milk products and fresh
vegetables.
The conference requests the pres
ident and the surgeon general and all
others interested in the public health
to assist actively in the efforts for the
establishment of health departments
in all counties or other units of gov
ernment. which shall be able. through
a well trained all-time health office
and public health nurses, to carry the
leadership which will insure longer
happier and more productive lives to
all the people, whether living in the
congested centers or in the most re.
mote sections of the country