Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-07-28

might mention incidentally tiide 'iio
work also brought into the City Urea
sury between $4,000 to $4,000. Much
of this sum having been due and un-
paid for years past.
"A total of 6S7 other insanitary con-
dtions and nuisances have been abatea
and il106 complaints investigated ana
acted upon as each case required.
Medical Inspection and Nursing
Upon this branch of our work rests
a very heavy responsibility, inasmuch
as the control of contagious diseases
depends upon the efficiency of our pre-
ventive measures.
The fact that we have had only four
cases of smallpox during the past Is
months and 10 cases of scarlet fever
and but a single case of diphthera
since January 1st to the present date,
would seem to indicate that this de-
partment had made use of all possible
means to prevent the spread of dan
gerous contagious diseases within our
city limits.
827 school and other children were
given medical examinations. 223 anti
typhoid NEGOTIATIONS were given and
3S3, persons vaccinated against small
pox during the year. The quarant!ning
of places where contagious diseases
existed. fumigation of rooms, instruc-
tive and nursing visits by our public
health nurse, ETC., make an interest
inc list which is fully noted in the
detailed report.
The Health Department Laboratory
1t has often been well SAID that the
laboratory is the eye of the health OIL
ficcc. This is very true, for without
It the health officer would be much Ike
blind man trying to guess the condi=
ton of his surroundings. The labora-
tory eliminates guess work and re-
duces things to a scientific certainty.
! During the year we have made ovec
1000 archaeological tests and cxani-
] nations.
We have rendered prompt and cf-
fient aid to our local doctors in the
diagnosis of suspected contagious d.
scases. We also made 167 diphthcr:a
cultures for Fairfax County, and AZ
for Alexandria County, The detailed
report will show the large amount
and varied character Of the work done
| IN our laboratory during the past year.
| The daily tests CT our city water sup
ply. the checking up Of the quality Of
milk furnished our citizens, wcula
alone repay the cost of maintaining
the laboratory.
YENEREAL DISEASE CLINIC
This clinic was opened as branch
of the health department on October
| ist. 1919. From that date to the end
of our fiscal year, juno 30. 1920. we
treated l29 male and 81 female pa
tients. Total treatments given, lI94.
Literature was distributed to over 3
900 people. Four illustrated public lee
lures were given, with an average at
tendance Of 400 at each lecture.
The work done in our clinic in the
treatment of the most dangerous and
highly contagious venereal diseases,
can never be measured in dollars and
cents.
In the past, such diseases have been
carefully concealed behind veil Of
false modesty. 1t was not until our
army was being modified that this
veil was torn asunder and the true
facts brought into the light. These
facts gathered by army surgeons and
other investigating government agcn-
c;cs, fully proved that our very ma
ticn was being undermined by these
hidden and destructive diseases. We
arc now doing our part here in the
work of the cure and prevention Of
this class Of diseases.
Typhoid Fever
Typhoid fever is used by all health
authorities as guage by which to
Judge the general sanitary condition
CT the city, and the efficiency of tie
local Health Department.
Such records as we can secure, show
that for many years past typhoid
fever has prevailed in this city in cpl
dcrlic form. Let us now see how the
record stands for the first year after
the organization of full time health
department. compared with the previ-
Gus year.
From July 1st, 1918 TO June 30tn
1919 there were Is deaths from ty-
phoid. Compare this with the past
fiscal year July 1st, 1919 TO June Both
1920, showing only 6 deaths. During
1918 there were over 200 cases This