The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-11-12
PROVISION FOR NEGRO TUBERCULARS.

If any argument would have the force necessary to compe
speedy action by the Board charge of Woodawn Hospital the
drawn from the vital statistics of city as to the greater
prevalence tuberculosis Negroes than among wne peo
pe and enclosed in the petition recently presented by the Negro
Welfare Board would seem to have that force
It is in part follows:
ut is shown that the mobdity Of whites during the year.
due to tuberculosis reported to the Health Department was
23 and of Negroes 4 Placing the white population OF Dallas
and the Negro population at 25OOO 1t is seen that IN
each 1000 whites there only LIT suffering with ubercuo
while each 1000 Negroes there SIG suffering with
the disease The white death this disease is shown to
the year 70 ess than one) per O0O while the death
for Negroes from said disease during same time was l0 per
600 that the Negro death rate from tuberculosis in
Dallas than twice large that OF the whites while
the Negro population times less than the white
We cite these figures to show above all others in Dallas
needs such facilities provided at Woodawn hospital at
the public expense for INDECENT tuberculosis patients
White people yearly reducing their death rate from tu
bercuoss by better sanitation better housing for the poor and
through the nstumentaity of sanarums such as Woodawn
They further reduce their death rate from this disease by
helping the Negro reduce his because by doing they viii
be removing one of the from which members OF their own
may become infected This becomes apparent when
recall the close contact in which the two come in Their
feu the porter the aundress from homes in which this
other communicable disease exists the employer is liable to in
lection from them and as every doctor knows are not nre
quenty contaminated from this source So as matter OF sell
protection alone would be to the advantage of the white people
to assist the Negro in this matter prayed for in this petition
If facts count for anything there doubt but that they
here presented in such to make action seem next
order
There doubt of the truth implied but not directly stated
IN TINS peton namely, that provision made Negro
ubecuar patients the huge expenditure Woodawn Hospital
will have been in vain For long points of contact between
the Dallas they the greater
danger of infection lies in the soated Negro Tubercuar sub
ct who having provision made for his is free to move
about wherever he Wills spreading the germs of this dreaded
disease and constituting of of this lack of provision for
his care menace of more than passing Importance.
1t would that if appropriations of public funds for pub
lie good follow naturally in the wake of proof positive of the
need of such appropriation definite provision speedily for
the of Negro beuas should be the result of the presen
taon OF this petition by the Colored Welfare Board
And in view of the facts in the of the making of pro-
vision for caring for Negro ubecular patients by city be
it said that such provision according to promises heretofore
made but carried should already have made
city, at least far this particular disease
ed should have been well its way noticeable decrease in
its prevalence.
SO long as is true that such of possible infection
is allowed to unprovded for Just long will our city am
county fall far short of efficiently exertg themselves in
half of public health.
In circumstances such these where action is so urgently
needed and this need plainly prone wonder why
action has been so long delayed and whether
caes and fonates incident do definite action for the public
good by officials might not be well discarded they are
responsible for this delay which all has been costly