The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-06-09
Religious Editorial Comment
REALIZATION OF OUR HEALTH NEEDS

NE1AAAAA<AxAOIN OC YIN NGEO0
During the next six days thoughtful citizens
of Ashe county will give serious attention to the
proposal to raise fifteen hundred dollars by vol
untary subscription for the establishment of
Health Department. This laudable undertake
ing is worthy of our most ardent support It's
purpose is high and demanding. It's motive is
beautiful and compelling. It can be done! It
will be done, if we citizens realize our health
needs
The Veneral Disease program alone would
be of inestimable value to the county. The ex-
tent of syphilitic infection in our nation is APP
palling. Five hundred and eighteen thousand
new patients infected with early syphilis seek
treatment each year, and surveys indicate that
as many people are infected who do not seek
treatment as those who do The record of an
adult population past 35 reveals that IS in every
1000 are infected with syphilis.
Considered from the point of view of econom-
les, syphilis is one of the most costly diseases to
the patient and the nation. The editor of Hy-
geia had said that the infected men lose at least
Fl million working days every year. At the rate
of 81 per day, the immediate loss is $84, 00O 0OO
No wonder Congress has passed bill providing
$3,O0O,000 for the United States Public Health
Service for the control of venereal diseases for
the year ending June 80, 1885, and increasing
amounts thereafter. This appropriation cannot,
however, be of any direct value to Ashe county
without the proper agency to use it. >
Veneral disease is only one among many
which renders our citizens destitute of earning
capacity. Attempt to collect taxes from per-
son with little or no earning power is like try
ing to get blood out of turnip, for the major
portion of our taxes are collectable from those
who have either been blessed with at least aver
age earning power or the native physical and
mental ability to conserve their inheritance.
The poorer our health the smaller our capacity
to earn. The smaller our power to earn, the
fewer our taxes One sure way to enlarge our
taxes is to increase the number Of healthy citi-
zens To establish an adequate Health Depart
ment, therefore, is to pour money into the coun-
ty Golfers. It is reasonable to assume that from
the point of view of collectable taxes this de-
partment would more than pay for itself.
doubt seriously if there is any organization
in Ashe county which will neglect this worthy
cause. Certainly no Christian Church. of what
ever denomination, will fail to contribute, for
Jesus went about teaching and preaching
and healing all manner of sickness and all man
ner of disease among the people" (Matt. 4.23)
If we are to carry out the commands of Jesus,
we must include his ministry of healing In
til comparatively recent times the priest, doctor,
and nurse were all one person, and that person
was the priest. For nineteen-twentieths of the
Christian era nearly all medical care was pro-
vided by priests and nuns o, Churches of Ashe
county, forget not your heritage and the COM
mand of your Master! Give now! And from
the stiffness of the very hour in which you give,
voice will say, "Inasmuch" Rev. w. J. Hun
eycutt, pastor, West Jefferson Methodist church
Southern senator's are reported to be at this
writing more than half mind to start another