The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-06-20
TUBERCULOSIS WORK BEING
DONE IN THE STATE
Some County Figures Concerning
Prevention cf This Disease

rolina has been passing through Pc
riod of financial depression and con-
seoaent retrenchment in expenditure
of public funds, there has been an
increase of S15,85O.O0 over last year
in appropriations by the state, coun-
ties and cities for the fight against
tuberculosis, according to a state
ment of the South Carolina Tubercu-
losis association.
While the legislature cut the ap-
preparation for the maintenance at
the state sanitarium S10,649.95 an
appropriation of S17,5OO.00 was
made for building and Improvements,
thus leaving a gain of S6,55O.00. The
city of Charleston appropriated
$3,0OO.O0 to Charleston county san
itarium which is in process of con-
struction. Richland county increased
it's appropriation 100000 and the
city of Columbia added 100000 to
it's former appropriation to the Rich
land County Anti-Tuberculosis asso-
citation. Other counties show an in
crease of 100000.
This increase in appropriation, with
funds from the tuberculosis Christ
mas seal sale and contributions from
charitable societies and individuals
will increase the number Of available
beds for the treatment of the dis
ease by approximately 80 beds. The
number of beds at presenE available
at the state sanitarium also county
and private sanitoria is 176. With
the addition Of 80 the number will be
raised to 2O6. While this increase
is encouraging it represents only a
slight approach to the number of
beds needed for South Carolina if the
state is to adequately handle the tu-
berculosis problem. There should be
5000 beds available in this state
now.
"The Importance of an intensive
campaign has just been illustrated oy
the results of the birmingham, Mas
sachusetts, experiment" said Presi-
dent j. Nelson 'Frierson, of the state
association. "In seven years time
the death rate has been lcut two
thirds. This would represent in
South Carolina saving of over 1000
lives every year"
Those who are, doing active work
in Newberry county to fight this
dread disease are the personnel of the
county health department, working in
cooperation with the various organl-
cations that are interested in this
fight Two clinics have been held
at the office Of the county health de-
partn1ent and "A examined, also
about 60 more examinations have
been made and several unsuspected
cases have been found this way and
treatment instituted at once. The
county nurse visited number OF
homes and has given instructions to-
wards prevention of the spread of the
disease in the household and the COM
munity. Four cases have been sent
to the state sanitarium.
That tuberculosis is community
problem is surely shown by the death
rate and the great prevalence of the
disease. There are estimated over
400 cases in Newberry county and
the records chow that for the last
three wears at least a. have died. The
! county health department holds
constant free clinic for any one who
wishes to be examined and to get ex-
pert advice. There are limited
number of beds at the state sanltarl-,
UNI for free patients and those suft-
ering from this disease should GER
tainly avail themselves of such an op-
portunity to win their way back to;
health.