The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-14
PEOPLES FORUM
PoIitico-McdicaI Trust

=
To the Editor of The Accelerate:
l wish to verify the statement
made by DIR. Thomas ID. Parke in
The Age-Herald. April 8, concern
ing vital statistics. DIR. Parke
says: 1.-The character of our work
never permitted our vital stats
tics to be accepted by the national
bureau. and our state health con-
ditions We're on a parity with our
statistics" According to the Mont
gomery newspapers, one out of
three white child en- in that coun-
ty still has hookworm. This is n
deplorable condition considering
the fact that our expensive health
board is located in that city. There
are a great many who will agree
with DIR. Parke that the health Of
ficer should be elected by the
people of the state. The present
system of electing the health off
GER for a lifetime invested with the
power of pope is foreign to
this state and nation. This system
has resulted in a powerful
politico- IN edical trust. and evil
IDENTIFY 1t is the ambition of this
trust to dominate and rule the
state.
To give some idea of what they
letter sent out to the doctors
over the state from the health
board: THE legislature of 1875
gave the medical profession rights
and privileges which are not only
the envy of other professions and
cellings in Alabama, but the envy
of every other state in the union :"
Now, the Legislature in comforting
these rights and privileges did not
intend that they should abuse
them; arrogating to themselves
plenary jurisdiction, not only over
the health of the body. but super
vision of mertal operations of 9TH
ers as Itans interested in the
health of the Individual as they,
and to shut off all progress In
the science Of health.
1t did not give them the right
to organize hierarchy and DOM
mate the state politically, under
the guise of public health.
Sanitation and disease preven-
ton is great work and should
receive the assiduous attention of
every citizen of the state. Dr..
Parke is eminently right in say
ing; Once our people will nave
assumed control and responsible
ity, like the people of other states
be expected that the reorganized
health system will insure our en-
trance into the registration area,
goal long desired but never at
tanned under our present system
OF delegated authority" 1t is I'M
derstood that the health board
will ask for an appropriation of a
million and quarter dollars at
the next Legislative session. Ev-
cry citizen and taxpayer of this
state has right to know Just
how, and for what, this money is
spent. They have a right to know
whether 1t goes for large sal
aries to people who perhaps in
some instances do not deserve
them. We are informed that
quite sum is to De spent In
lighting mosquitoes, Brazilian
ants, rats, fleas, etc. which is
all very well and good. but /, for
)re, would like to know Just how
much money they propose to spend
upon the already diseased. pow
ertE- stricken women and little
chlIdren throughout the state.
Inc people of Alabama should
awaken to a realization of the
truth; that our present State
Board of Health can be improved
upon greatly, and bring ali pres
sure to bear upon the legislature
Tor a change in our present
hlerocratic health system"
q. G. RUTHERFORD NJ. d.
= Birmingham, Ala, April u, 1922