The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-08-15
"BASELESS SCARE" WAS "oVERDoNE"

Writing in The Charlotte Observer, Dr..
Julian s. Miller philosopher, not physi-
ciahl says that many doctors are agreed
that ''the scare about infantile paralysis
hal been baseless and was far overdone
white it was at it's worst in North Caro-
lima . ~E g, -.
This is a statement of fact, as to the
opinions of the doctors and as to the man
ner. in which the so-called epidemic was
handled by the State health authorities.
We don't see how it could be,possible. to
buIgle any job as badly as the authorities
bundled this one, especially in view OF the
fact that the responsible citizens are sup
posbH to be experts, which in turn is sup
posed to mean that they are citizens of su-
perior intelligence, and ought to have been
able to show some common sense and good
judgment in this case. ..
The net result of what has been accom-
plished by the policy of the State health
authorities has been to needlessly brighten
millions of people throughout large sec
ton of the United States and keep thou
sands of people and millions of dollars OF
money out of North Carolina during the
Summer. .
No good citizen would stake the health,
safety and general welfare of the people
of this and other States against business
and, no one can reasonably condemn the
taking of necessary precautions to control
and,prevent the spread of disease; but now
that the so-called epidemic is playing out,
andlas the public considers all the facts in
relation to its short history, it is clear, as
DIR. Miller states, that the scare was base
lessiand was overworked.
1t is now believed that probably half of
the cases announced as paralysis by the
AUTHORITIES were not, in fact, cases of para
lysis< That proved to be true of the case
ANNOUNCED in this county and of the case
announced in Cleveland county. All such
cases were rushed into print as cases of
paralysis, without awaiting definite deyel-
opmsnts; and in summing up the number
of cases on any particular date, the num-
Der arom the first of the year was stated
as the number of cases existing in North
Carolina, regardless of the number already
recovered. .... ..s.. ..
However, the damage has been done, es-
peci@ly the damage to the mountain sec
tion sf the State, where there has been this
year Jess than the normal number of cases
of paralysis, and these cases in only three
or four counties Around twenty counties
in the western section have not had sin
gle case of paralysis. .... .-
The people of this section deeply resent
the way in which this matter has been
handed by the State authorities; and they
are equally resentful of the attitude of
many of the people of other States,
whose hysterical attitude merely increased
grouadlesS fears and the difficulties of the
problem. o. ay4
We believe this last statement applies
with particular force to Florida, where the
attitude of the public has been extremely
harmful to Western North Carolina. That
attitude has been unreasonable, too; be-
causes the authorities and other reputable
cltlzeps OF the mountain section supplied
the people of Florida with accurate and
complete information in regard to condi-
tionssehere and throughout the State.
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