Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-17
County Health Serv;ce

~ UBLIC health services under the direc-
ton of full-time officials were conduct
ed during the last twelvemonth in one
hundred and ninety-two counties of the United
States If the number appear small it is
nevertheless a marked gain over five or ten
years ago, and continues to increase.
The work, as reported by the Rockefeller
Foundation, which has aided materially in its
progress, consists mainly in vaccination
against smallpox and typhoid, diphtheria pre-
vention, the building of sanitary fly-proof
latrines, medical inspection of school chill
dren, infant and maternal welfare service con-
troll of communicable diseases, with particu-
lar reference to tuberculosis, and popular
education in public and personal hygiene"
Programs vary, of course, with the problems
to- be attacked and the funds available. In
some regions the campaign is centered upon
malaria, in others upon tuberculosis, and SO
on; but in all which are wisely directed, child
welfare and education of the public are
stressed
The annual cost of a fuIltime health ad-
ministration is estimated to average about ten
thousand dollars This includes salaries or
three thousand dollars for the county health
officer, fifteen hundred for the sanitary In
spector, fifteen hundred for nurse, nine hun
dred for clerical assistance, twenty-four hun
dred for travelling expenses, and seven hum
dred for contingent fund "While contribu-
tions from outside sources seem to be neces=
sary at the outset the report observes sit is
believed that fairly prosperous counties
should be able to meet by taxation the entire
cost Of this simpler type of health service.
An extension of the program might call for
continued State and Federal aid to supple
nent local funds"
There are few if any Georgia counties that
cannot easily carry out the terms of the
Ao% lit 1N 114I Sc
monwealth's public health charter; and as
suredIy there is not one that can afford to
ignore that protective and constructive meas
ure. At per capita cost well-nigh negligi-
BILE, county can save the equivalent of tens
of thousands of dollars through the proven
ton of disease; and, more than this, can add
vastly to it's wealth through quickened ener-
gies and widened prestige. One case Of
typhoid would cost a citizen incomparably
more than years sanitary tax, if indeed it
did not cost him his own Or a dear ones
life. One district, freed from malaria may
yield returns by way of enhanced land VAL
ues and increased productiveness sufficient
to pay health officers salary for fifty
years. One child spared from a lifetime of
miseries or handicaps would be reward
enough for every dollar spent for medical
inspection of schools.
Georgia counties that have inaugurated
public health service have been abundantly
repaid in economic as well as in human re-
suits. Those that have not yet taken this
forward step can i'll afford to delay. For
they are suffering, not only in reputation as
compared with their progressive neighbors,
but also in their most inward and vital in
terests. They are hazarding the safety of
their children; they are leaving the most
critical sources of waste and loss unchecked;
they are neglecting opportunities that are
priceless. May the day soon come when ev-
cry town and countryside of this Common
wealth will have its watchful and saving
health service.