The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

February, 1951 The Health Bulletin 11NOTES & COMMENTBy The EditorDR. ELLIOT—On February 1st Dr.A. H. Elliot joins the staff of the NorthCarolina State Board of Health as theDirector of the Division of PersonalHealth. Since 1931 Dr. Elliot has beenHealth Officer for the ConsolidatedBoard of Health for the City of Wilmingtonand New Hanover County. Heis known throughout the State as agood health officer. His program in NewHanover County was well balanced andincluded most of the activities whichare generally recognized as good publichealth procedures. Practically all of theactivities considered to be a part ofthe responsibilities of the Division ofPersonal Health are component partsof Dr. Elliot's program as a CountyHealth Officer. He will, therefore, befamiliar with the broad phases of thework which he will confront in his newcapacity. In succeeding the late Dr.George M. Cooper as the Director ofthe Division of Personal Health, has adifficult assignment. However, those ofus who know Dr. Elliot have every confidencethat he will do a creditable job.• * * *TUBERCULOSIS STATISTICS—Weare including in this issue of the Bulletinthe vital statistics of tuberculosiswhich ordinarily would have appearedin the November issue. We hope thatour tardiness in publication of this informationwill not detract from the interestwhich this important informationshould command.* • * •REPORT ON STUDY OF REGIONALBLOOD GROUP DISTRIBUTIONSThe blood type of 141,774 men andwomen who voluntarily contributedblood to the American Red Cross fromJanuary 1948 through March 1949 isthe subject of a report in the Journalof the American Medical Association.The information was gathered from15 representative cities and their outlyingareas. The regions includedYakima, Wash.; Rochester, N. Y.: Detroit;Massachusetts (^42.3 degrees latitudenorth); Omaha; Columbus, O.;Washington; St. Louis, Stockton, Calif.;Wichita, Kan.; San Jose, Calif.; Springfield,Mo.; Charlotte, N. C; Los Angelesand Atlanta.The total percentage of persons fallinginto each blood type from all 15regions was as follows: O blood group,45.55 per cent; A, 40.77 per cent; B,9.96 per cent; and AB, 3.72 per cent.The O type blood can be used in alltransfusions regardless of blood typeof the recipient."In the event of an emergency requiringlarge quantities of blood," thereport said in part, "the southern areasnow appear to be comparatively favorablesources of O and the northernareas of B."The results showed, to some extent,that for each degree of latitude proceedingfrom north to south the Ogroup percentage increased, on theaverage, .32 per cent. Prom north tosouth the B group percentage decreased.17 per degree of latitude. No east-westtrends were discovered.The report brought out that from regionto region the greater the O, A or Bpercentage, the smaller on the averagewas the percentage for the remaininggroups within the trio, but AB group"tended to be stable."In conclusion the report said that"population changes could be responsiblefor marked changes (in regionallocation of blood types) within thespan of a very few years."Associates of the American Red Crosswho made the study were: George W.Hervey, Sc.D.; Dr. Louis K. Diamondand Virginia Watson, M.S., of Washington,D. C.* * • *AMERICAN HEARING SOCIETY817 14th St., N. W.Washington 5, D. C.Kenfield Memorial ScholarshipIn 1937 a sum of money was subscribedin memory of Miss Coralie N.