The Washington herald., 1921-07-31
PLAGUE REPORTS
SHOW INCREASE,
HARDING WRITES
Tells South Carolina
Representative Investi-
CATION Advisable.

where near-famine has been re-
ported. have been misrepresented.
IA full and official refutation would
be highly desirable" in the opinion
of President Harding.
The President wrote Representa-
tives Byrnes. OF South Carolina. who
had informed him that existence of
either a plague or a famine in that
State was to be regarded "as an
utter absurdity."
'It Is gratifying to be assured
that South Carolina Is SO fortu-
nately situated wrote the Presi-
dent, "and we must all hope that
full information will show that con-
ditions generally are equally sat
isfactory. Unfortunately. reports
indicate that they are not. .
The reports indicate that a wide
territory is affected. and. coming
through the Public Health Service.
strongly suggest the advisa bility of
thorough investigation as a measure
spread of pellaEra."
Telegram Confirms Views.
The President added that hrs
views were confirmed by a telegram
from Charles o. Hearon. editor or
the Spartanburg Herald. which
Byrnes had forwarded to him.
You may be assured that the
last thing in the administrators
mind has been to exaggerate the
seriousness of the situation, or do
anything which would cause undue
alarm" the President continued
The effort is merely to develop the
facts in order that a proper course
may be determined in view Of
them
Text of the Letter.
The Presidents letter follows in
full:
Il have received and have to
thank you for your letter of July 81
and its Illuminating Enclosures
The latter include a number OF
! kilograms from South Carolina re-
garding conditions there, as to food
supplies and existence OF pellagra
Your letter summarizes your con-
clusion from these communications
thus:
while assuring you that
speak the views Of our people ir
expressing gratitude to you for the
generous spirit that prompted you
to make this appeal for aid. an
confident that in South Carolins
there exists at this time no neces'
sfty for any greater cooperation
on the part Of the Public Health
4 Car,rira hu 10 oil nth
times. And as the existence In
| South Carolina at this time oi
either a plague or a famine is ar
sity for the Red Cross furnishing
aid. Should the State ever be un-
I fortunate enough to suffer a dis
aster with which the people of the
! State cannot cope we will gladly
welcome aid and ask for 1t. but
think il would be unfortunate II
the Red Cross is called upon to
relieve plague and a famine OF
which the people in South Carolina
are unaware
1T is gratifying to be assured
that South Carolina is so fortu-
hope that full information will
! SHO" lhdl NOHOlllOHS al
equally satisfactory.
Increase in Mississippi.
Unfortunately the reports indi.
cate they are not. One dealing
with Mississippi says that in May
| 100 new cases were reported In
the State; in June, about 2.400, and
that Il further increase over the
| June figures was expected in July
The reports indicate that a wide
territory is affected. and coming
through the Public Health Service
strongly suggest the advisability OF
thorough investi CATION as a meas
ure OF preparedness against further
spread OF pellagra another season
In my impression this is highly
desirable. and confirmed by the tele-
gram from Mr.. Charles o. Hearon
editor OF the Spartanburg Herald
which you have been good enough
to forward to me. In part he says
81 am thoroughly familiar wItr
the pellagra studies that have taken
place here from the coming of the
Thompson McFadden commission
with Capt. Siler. Of the United
States army. and Capt. Garrison, OF
the United States navy on that com.
mission, to the final report on the
disease by DR.. Goldberger as the re.
suit of investigation made at the
United States Pellagra Hospital. ir
this city. That institution was
! closed last January. ! believe, but
DR.. Wheeler. representing the Pub.
| lie Health Department., rs still 10.
Gated here and is studying the dis.
ease. He says there has been some
increase in the number of cases. In
my judgment there is nothing
alarming in the situation. but those
of US who have been interested In
the study of this disease in thi.
part of the country have felt tina,
the governments study of pellagra
stopped just at the time it shoult
have been continued. The disease