Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-07-08
DOCTORS REPORT ON
"M0DEL VILLAGE;
HEALTH DEPT. SCHEME
Community Conducted As Ex-
pertinent Makes Report.

The first annual report on the
model health department in the
model village which the United
States public health service has
been developing for nearly two
years on the government reserya-
ton at Perryville, Md, reveals some
interesting data. The reservation
was used in the war as site for a
huge nitrate plant. The buildings
included 200 cottages, two general
stores, model school house, club,
fire house and theatre for the en-
Ployees. The whole reservation was
surned oyer by congress to the
health service for a. hospital site
and for the storage Of the vast
quantities OF medical stores requir-
ed for the health service hospitals.
The service promptly transform
ed a group Of cottages into one
hospital and set to build another,
the whole now accommodating 490
patients. Not including the some
what variable hospital quota, the
reservation now has a population OF
839 persons, about equally male and
female, with many children and
few aged.
The birth rate on the reservation
was 1888 per thousand, as against
2459 in the whole state and 28.78 in
the country. The death rate was
only 1867, the excess in children be
ing probably about balanced by the
deficiency in aged persons. While
this low death rate is partly due to
the favorable age constitution Of
the population, much Of the credit
belongs to the efficient and health
administration.
Careful work has kept the rec
ord of communicable diseases low
Particularly was this the case with
diphtheria, of which an outbreak
was reported early in the year in
the village outside the reservation
across the railroad track from
which daily many workmen came
to the plant. The Schick test show
ed that one-third of the children
were susceptible to the disease, and
all or these were promptly immun
lied by a new method. Three
months later a second test showed
that only three still remained sus-
ceptible.
In the year thirty cases of dipb.
iberia occurred in the county and
three on the reservation. one of
them newcomer, one a young sis
ter OF boy who was found to be a
carrier, and one adult
The low prevalence Of CONTAGIOUS
diseases Is ascribed directly to
close watch and prompt isolation.
laboratory diagnosis, and prophy.
laxis; and indirectly to pasteurized
milk, filtered and chlorinated water,
school medical supervision and good
living conditions, including sewers,
screens and covered garbage cans.
A physical examination of the
children showed that 93,5 per cent
had physical defects of teeth, ton
siis. adenoids, eyes or hearing this
large percentage probably being due
to the lack of facilities for remedial
correction nearer than Baltimore.
Similar. percentages are found in
the county outside the reservation.
Many of these defects have recent
ly been corrected by the parents.
Between November, 1919, and
1920, the percentage of underweight
children was reduced from APT to
1873. The drinking water, which is
drawn from the Susquehanna river,
is naturally in Bad condition, being
contaminated IA several highly var
liable ways. For 60 on the reser-
walton 1t is pumped to scc's*Asg tanks
where the suspended matter ~ Gxst
precipitated by coagulation wiz
aluminium sulphate, after which the
water IS passed through sand fit.
ers. This publication is further sup
plemented by disinfecting the wa.
ter with liquid chlorine.
Mosquitoes were practically exter.
minated by the usual methods. This
was essential, both to afford much
needed relief and to prevent NAL.
aria being transmitted from soldiers
in hospitals who had been trained
IN Southern camps and might have
become carriers Of the malaria
germs.
The reservation offers MANY ia.
c1lltles for research work, particu.
larry in various phases or sanitary
engineering. It's location suggests II
as school where public health cd.
mnlstration can be taught practic,
ally to all interested.