Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-11
Communicable Disease Rate
Lower Than In Three
Years
LOW DEATH RATE
Health Department Reports All Ae-
tivities During The Past Month
Fifteen Deaths and Thlrty-One
Births Reported.

that originated within our city limits
during the month Of September. This
is the first September of which we
have any record, when our city was
free from that disease This IS very
remarkable, as September IS noted
as q typhoid month.
am also pleased to state that we
have had fewer cases of typhoid since
January lst, up to date, than for any
similar period as far back as we
have any. reliable record. More than
30 per cent less than last summer
or the summer before.
By the continued extension of our
sewer system, and removal OF unsanI-
tary conditions, together with con-
slant watchfuineSS over our water,
milk and food supplies, typhoid fever
can be reduced TO very low rate.
Ii is q prcventable disease. The gen
eral communicable disease rate for
the month of September, was lower
than 1t has been for the past three
years. All of this is pleasing to re
late, and is a matter of much inter
est to our citizens, and would also
Indicate to others that the general
health OF our city IS as good as any
other city Of its size.
While the year of 1927 was re-
cord breaker for its extra low com
municable disease rate, (both in num-
Der OF cases and deaths from same)
vet the nine months of 1922 that have
PASSED. show much lower rate. In
other words deaths from prevent
able diseases have been reduced each
wear since 1919, yet the actual popu-
lation of our city has increased from
l7,7SS in 1919, 10 1888 in 1921, and
/ am sure it will be no less for 1922.
Therefore the fact remains that while
the population has increased, the
deaths have been reduced.
A total of 2O5 inspections were
made of meat markets grocery
stores, fish markets, fish wagons,
bakeries, ice cream parlorS, restaur-
ants, soft drink establishments, etc.
Forty inspections were made OF the
various dairies that supply milk to
this city, and Is laboratory tests were
made of milk samples.
Eighty sanitary inspections were
made of barber shops, moving picture
theatres, public toilets, yards and
buildings and public schools.
A total OF SOB general complaints
were investigated and 40 nmsances
were abatCd.
Two hundred and seventeen official
notices were issued to correct UNI
sanitary conditions, abate nuisances
and clean alleys and cutters. four
sewer connections were made. The
various other work done is fully set
forth in the detailed report.
Three hundred and forty tests OF
various kinds were made IN our la
boratory during September. twenty
two tests of the city water were made,
and all turned out very good. Our
laboratory is always busy and all
the wohk is of the utmost Importance.
No modern health department can
be conducted, without a well SOUP
ped laboratory.
In the veneral clinic, we had 81
patients and gave total OF 4Oo
treatments.
When it is understood that we are
frequently picking up people suffer
ing froh syphilis IN highly contagl-
Gus form, who are daily IN contact
with others, it would be hard indeed
TO cXaggeratc the Importance of this
work. We have taken cooks and nurses
out of private homes, where they We're
daily preparing food for the family
and taking care of little children,
yet they were suffering from syphlhs
IN its most infectious stage, with
open sores on their hands. We have
. taken infected people out of barber
shops, restaurants, lauudrieS, stores.
and other places, and by treating
them in our cline, have either cured
them or rendered them non-lntect'OuS
and no longer menace to the pub
lie.
We had thirteen patients and gave
forty treatments in the eye cnnlc.
Miss Monroe, the school nurse, Is now
looking over the schools and picking
ont such children who need eXamlra-
ton or advice, and whose parents are
unable TO pay for same.
In the general clinic for the poor
OF our city, we gave q total Of ninety
three treatments, examinations Sud
advice. Many are treated at their
homes and visited by our nurse.
Forty-three nursing, Investigating
and infant welfare visits were made
by our nurse. She also assisted in ouI
clinics during - aSoSfnoopS, helped
Miss Monroe, the school nurse at
attended 10 such other work assign
ed TO her by the Health Officer.
\ total of 1870 school children were
vaccinated during the month of Sep
TENDER, and we have not yet finish
ed the work.
As before noted, the general healtE
of our city was remarkable good dur
ing September. We have had ver!
few cases of the usual children's dis
cases since the public schools opened
| consider the general sanitary con
dition Of the city, taken as q whole
to be fairly good.
There were fifteen deaths and 8,
births during the month Of September