The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-30
DESPITE CHARGES
OF EXACCERATION
PROBE TO BE MADE
resident States No Relief Meas
ures Contemplated Unless
They Are Necessary.
~lEPORTS INDICATE
DISEASE INCREASING
according to the Public Health
Service Wide Territory
Is Affected.
(By The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, July 29.-DeSpitI
enials and charges OF exaggeratior
le governments investigation int
le pellagra situation in the south will
ahead President Harding informed
representative Byrnes of South Caro-.
ma In a letter today Replying to {
tier from Mr.. Byrnes in which the
outh Carolina congressman had stat
d that any belief that plague or fam
10 existed in his state was an abb
Z ardity, the president official reports
dicated the contrary and that both
J ublic health service reports and priv
to advices certainly justified the
pinion that thorough investigation
hould be made.
The president informed Mr.. Byrnes
mat no organization Of relief measures
ere contemplated unless a full in
estigation covering the entire affected
rea should make it apparent that such
Z cps were necessary.
The text Of the presidents letter
Z flows:
MY Dear Mr.. Byrnes:
II have received and have to thank
. on for your letter of July 27 and
illuminating enclosures The latter
lclude number OF kilograms from
outh Carolina regarding conditions
lere, as to food supplies and existence
pellagra. Your letter summarizes
our conclusion from these communi-
atoms thus while assuring you that
speak the views of our people in ex-
ressing gratitude to you for a gem
rous spirit that prompted you to
This 81 -
dent that In South Carolina there ex-
Is at this time no necessity for any
] reater cooperation on the part of the
! ublic health service than Is rendered
Z all other times. And as the ex-
tence In South Carolina at this time
~ either q plague or a famine is an
tier absurdity, there is no necessity
ar the Red Cross furnishing aid.
hould the state ever be unfortunate
1ough to suffer q disaster with which
ne people of the state cannot cope we
ill gladly welcome aid and ask for it,
ut / think 1t would be unfortunate If
! he Red Cross Is called upon to relieve
plague and famine OF which the
eople OF South Carolina are un-
ware
1T is gratifying to be assured that
iouth Carolina is so fortunately situ-
ted and we must all hope that full
aformation will show that conditions
enerally are equally satisfactory.
Unfortunately the reports indicate
hey are not. One. dealing with Mis-
issippi says: that in May 100 new
ases were reported in the state: in
une about 2,400 and that a further
ncrease over the June figures are ex-
ected in July The reports indicate
nat wide territory is affected and
Z oming through the public health serv-
re, strongly suggest the advisability
thorough investigation as a measure
preparedness against a further
pread OF pellagra another season. In
~ opinion this is highly desirable
nd, confirmed by a telegram from
m. Charles o. Hearon, editor of the
partanburg Herald. which you have
cen good enough to forward to me.
part ne says:
I am thoroughly familiar with the
eliagra studies that have taken place
ere from the coming of the Thomp-
on-McFadden commission with Cap
ain Siler of the United States army
nd Captain Garrison of the United
tates navy on that commission, to
he final report on the disease by DIR.
'oldberger as the result OF investiga-
ion made at the United States pei
gra hospital in this city. That insti-
ition was closed last January, / be-
eve but DR. Wheeler, representing the
ublic health department is still locat-
here and is studying the disease.
Ie says there has been some increase
the number OF cases. In my judg-
lent there is nothing alarming in the
ituation but those of us who have
cen interested in the study of this
isease in this part OF the country
ave felt that the governments study
pellagra stopped just at the time
should have been continued. The
isease subsided in the days of abb
ormal prosperity and the experts pre-
icted at the time it might recur in
ny period OF depression. I
o not know what causes pellagra but
think the public health department
on the right track and should con-
lnue its investigation just now when
hey tell us the disease is coming
,ack.'
'aThere have been so many reports
(continued on Page Three)