The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-09-05
~
Ihrousu'
Hazel
Eyes
BY
Hazel Brannon

Today its presence in our mids,
is recognized and an open wal has
been declared against it by medical
and health authorities in the U. S.
Much has been written about the
lack Of virility in the army of France
in this war. 1t is an established fact
that an army can be no stronger
than its soldiers. If we are to have
an army second to none in the world
we must have people that are com
pletely sound physically.
In the city of Paris, in a recent
survey, it was found that one out
of every five persons had this dis
ease.
Certainly we are going to have to
stamp out veneral diseases of all
kinds if our people are to be sound
in mind and body, if we are to have
a superior type of people.
In our own state institution for
insane people authorities state that
80 persons out of every hundred
have a syphilitic background. It can
easily be seen what havoc this disease
is doing.
State medical authorities estimate
there are over 100000 cases among
the negroes and $4,000 cases among
the white people in the state of
Mississippi.
The Federal government evidently
means to see that this disease is
wiped out among all races. The pre-
v~alence Of a disease among one race
certainly vitality concerns every per-
SON, regardless Of race or color, who
makes contact with this race. The
Federal government appropriated
seven million dollars July 1st to help
wipe out syphilis in the United
States.
This money is to be spent in all
of the states Of the Union. 1t is to
be matched by funds by each state
and each county who desire to make
a fight against this disease.
The state Of Mississippi appropriate
ed 100000 to use for this purpose.
Thus any county in this state that
wants to put up some funds for the
establishment Of clinics to eradicate
syphilis can get this money matched
by the state and Federal govern
ments.
The state Health department is
doing everything possible to estab-
lish these clinics all over the state,
especially in counties where there is
a heavy negro population. The state
health department adopted the policy
of leaving it up to the doctors in
each county whether there will be
clinics in that county. 1t is not try
ing to take business away from the
doctors. Rather it is trying to give
them business. Provision is made
for the doctors in the clinics to be
paid for their services at the rate
of 800 per hour and to have a
nurse assistant. AS it stands now
there are very few of our negroes
who can afford this treatment.
Many of the doctors in the state are
giving lots of the shots free every
week.
Recognizing the fact that the doc
tors have spent thousands of dollars
in training for their profession the
Federal and state governments are
not trying to get the doctors to do
charity work but rather they want
to pay them for their services. The
doctors in this program will profit
financially much more than at pre-
sent in treating the disease and head
way can be made in stamping it out
completely, because all persons hav-
ing the disease will be treated.
Until these clinics are established
it will be impossible to get rid of the
disease.
Already AZ counties in this state
have these clinics operating with the
majority of doctors in these counties
cooperating.
There is $4,000 available for use
in Holmes county if our Board of
Supervisors will spend $2,400 and
our doctors will cooperate in the
clinics.
We are sure the members of the
board of supervisors will support this
move on hundred per cen if the doc
tors of the county will support it.
Approval of the majority of the doe
tors of the county will have to be
had under the present plan.
Holmes county doctors will con-
slider this matter at an early meet
ing, we are informed. Surely they
will lend every aid possible to try to
stamp out syphilis in this county.
This county with its ratio of three
to-one colored certainly needs the
clinics.
We spent thousands of dollars not
so long ago to get rid of cattle tick.
Surely human beings are more i'm
portant than cattle.
Our doctors will decide that issue
however.
The Light, a weekly newspaper at
Bay st. Louis, who is supporting
Wendell Willkie tells this one:
eve have heard the remark, "don't
chaupa horSes in mid-Sfroam