Evening star., 1921-07-26
SOUTH DISCOUNTS !:
PELLAGRA REPORT i|
Seven States Deny Fear. OF
FamIne-Plans for U. S. .
Action Framed. f''-;'s,'

with President Harding's direction.
the United States Public Health
Service and the American Red Cross
today were working out plans for
preventing further spread Of peliagrs
in, the south and to avoid extension
of semi famine conditions which are
said to exist. -
While the public health service in
sists there is an increase in the num-
Der of pellagra cases, and the Presi-
dent has taken cognizance of It, re-
ports from seven state health ON
GERS in the south denied that there
has been any increase Of the disease.
and repudiated the statement that semi
famine conditions exist.
See Notable Increase. -,
1t was said at the public health serv-
ice that despite these reports on nom
increase Of the disease, there 10 a
noticeable increase of psllagra in
certain sections. State health authori-
ties are not cognizant Of the preva-
lence OF disease in their own localities.
according to the public health serv-
ice, becaue of the incomplete organi-
cations of their health departments
to get complete reports.
This has been indicated many times
recently. federal health officials said,
oy the receipt of reports from COM
munities of the increase of the dis
ease. Telegraphic inquiry at the state
heaith headquarters brought back the
information that they did not know
OF the conditions.
Further, it was pointed out by the
federal officials. the state officers do
not want to admit the prevalence OF
Of the fear that it would give them
a black eye" They do not want the
reports to get out, and, therefore,
deny any reports concerning in
creases in the disease.
The federal officials said that the
increase in pellagra was not general
in any one state or throughout the
south. but the reports show that GER
tain communities have large in
creases. There may be a large in
and no noticeable increase anywhere
else.
/ One OF First Things to Be Done.
One of the first things to be done
in compliance with the Presidents .
direction to take steps to combat the
spread of the disease. 1t was said. is
for the states to take kindly to fed
sams sGss' hs fact heP oP the Tss
cause the official reports of the fed
eral reporting agencies show this to
be true. In addition. the government
has reports made to 1t by communi-
ties which have asked for help: Or
next step to be taken in the fight
ing the disease. Local. state and fed
eral Red Cross agencies must be or
ganized to cooperate with other or
the disease is shown to be spreading.
in order to make determined fight.
Just what steps the federal govern
ment is to take in the present case.
has not yet been determined 1t was
said today at the office of Surgeon
General Cumming of the public health
service. The receipt of the Presidents s
letter regarding the conditions in the
south started all of the forces work.
ing at fast speed to determine upon
some plan whereby the federal gov!
ernment could be of some help toward
combating 1t.
Cummins in Conferencve.
Surgeon General Cummins was in
conference practically all the morn
ing with his staff of assistants going
over the detailed reports and working
on some plan for aid which will be
forwarded to the President in answer
to his letter OF yesterday. J
This afternoon the surgeon general
is to confer with DR.. Farrand OF the
American Red Cross.
Offer of every possible aid by the
Red Cross in the situation confront
ing thousands of persons in the south
due to failure of the cotton market
was made to the President today by
DR.. Livingston Farrand. head OF the
American Red Cross. In a letter ac-
knowledlging one from the President
asking the aid Of the Red Cross to
prevent the spread Of pellagra and
famine, Dr.. Farrand pledged the en-
tire resources of the Red Cross to
prevent spread Of the famine and
plague" to which the President re-
ferred in his letters to DR.. Farrand
Red Cross Meeting.
A conference was held this after-
which Red Cross officials and officials
Of the public health service partici-
pated to ascertain the need for CO.
operation between the two agencies.
DR.. Farrand made the following
statement today to a representative
OF The Star: The Red Cross will i'm
mediately get in touch with the pub
msnt agencies; with the various OFF,
cial and unofficial state agencies in
an endeavor to ascertain both the
facts as they now exist and probable
developments during the coming
year. and with these agencies will de-
wise such means and make such rec
ommendations as may be necessary to
ing or likely to arise"
DIR. Farrand indicated that the state
and local organizations of the Red Cross
are ready on short notice to go to the
stricken areas and provide such assis-
tance as may be necessary.
Declaring the>shortage Of money re-
sulting from the inability Of the people
their cotton was threatening famine
and plague" the President wrote Surgeon
General Cumming of the public health
service that Immediate and effective
measures Of amelioration are manifestly
demanded If conditions even approximate
the gravity suggested by the health serv-
ice." Promising tho full cooperation Of
declared that II found necessary Con-
gress would be asked to pass special
legislation to meet the situation.
Letter to Gen. CummisE.
The President, in his letter to
Surgeon General Cumming. said:
Il have been greatly concerned to
public health service as to the men
ace of pellagra and condition of at
least semi-famine in a large section
of the cotton belt. That such a con.
dition is obviously temporary, Incl
dent to the economic dislocation fol-
lowing the war. cannot lessen our
concern. Famine and plague are
words almost foreign to our Amer
ican vocabulary. save as we have
learned their meaning in connection
with the Affections Of lands less
favored and toward which our peo-
pie have SO many times displayed
large and generous charity.
Immediate and effective measures
of amelioration are manifestly de-
nandea, If conditiona Aven : nnroxi.
mate the gravity suggested by the
public health report. 1t is unthink-
able that we should delay for q sin
gle daY the institution of such meaa.