The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-29
HARDING THINKS
>PELLAGRA LOOMS,
DESPITE DEN|ALS
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suffer a disaster with which the peo-
pie of the State cannot cope, we viii
gladly welcome aid and ask for IT..
but i think II would be unfortunate II
the Red Cross Is called upon to relieve
q plague and famine of which the
people in South Carolina are I'M
aware
ut il gratifying to be assured that
South Carolina Is SO fortunately sit
uated and we must all hope that full
information will show that conditions
generally are equally satisfactory.
Mississippi Reports Grave.
Unfortunately. the reports indicate
they are not. One, dealing with Mis-
sissippi. says that in May 1.700 new
cases were reported In the State: In
June about 2,400. and that q further
increase over the June figures was
expected in July. The reports indi-
cate that a wide territory is affected.
and, coming through the public health
service, strongly suggests the advis,
ability Of thorough investigation as a
measure of preparedness against fur
Their spread Of pellagra another sea
son. In my Impression this is highly
desirable. and. confirmed by the teie-
grams from DR.. Charles o. Hearon.
editor of the Spartanburg Herald
which you have been good enough to
forward to me. In part he says:
~ am thoroughly familiar with
the pellagra studies that have taken
place here from the coming Of the
Thompson McFadden Commissi o n
with Captain iler. Of the United
States Army, and Captain Garrison.
Of the United States Navy. on that
commission to the final report on the
disease by DIR. Goldberger as the re-
suit OF Investigations made at the
United States PeIlagra Hospital in
this city. That institution was clos
ed last January, i believe. but DR..
Wheeler. representing the Public
Health Department, is still located
here and is studying the disease.
He says there has been some in
crease in the number of cases. In
my Judgment there is nothing alarm
ing in the situation, but those Of US
who have been interested in the study
Of this disease in this part OF the
country have felt that the Govern
ment's study of pellagra stopped
Just at the time it should have been
continued
Plans Full Investigation.
of precisely the sort which would
Justify Mr.. Hearon's views, and they
have come from such authority. that
II has seemed to me desirable to take
these steps which have been adopted.
These do not contemplate any or
ganization of relief measures or spe.
cial extension of relief. unless full
investigation, covering the entire al
fected area, shall make apparent that
such measures are necessary.
II cannot but feel that II these re-
ports have misrepresented conditions
in any part of the South to the dis.
advantage Of that section, a full and
official REPUTATION of them would be
highly desirable; while, IL such an
investigation should develop the need
for unusual measures of relief, those
could be promptly and intelligently
applied. You may be assured that
the last thing in the Administration s
mind has been to exaggerate the
seriousness Of the situation or do
anything which would cause undue
alarm. The effort is merely to do
velop the facts in order that a prop
err course may be determined In view
of them.
Most sincerely yours,
WARREN @. HARDING