The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-09-07
MONTHLY REPORT
Of the County Health Department of
Ellis County, Kansas, for the
Month of July, 1922

July 81, 1922.
To the Board of County Commission
ers:
The department has not yet sue
ceeded in locating nurse who it is
thought would be satisfactory to
Ellis County. Several applications
have been received, but for different
reasons, they have all been withdrawn
or rejected. However, as the time is
approaching for the schools to re-
open in Ellis County, an effort will be
made to fill the position of an early
date.
It was planned to do considerable
amount of Infant Welfare work dur
ing the summer months. This has not
been possible, however, on account
of the resignation of the County
Health nurse. At Ellis, however, a
nurse has been employed by the local
branch of the Red Gross, and Chill
dren's Health Clinic has been estab-
lished and has been in operation for
more than three weeks. A Tonsil and
Adenoid Clinic was also held by one
of the physicians at Ellis, and large
number of children We're operated up
on for these defects. AS a result of
the improvement in the physical con-
dition of these children, better work
will be accomplished during the next
school term.
As indicated in our last report,
survey of the milk supply of Hays,
Ellis and Victoria has been made by
the Department in cooperation with
the State Board of Health. Samples
of milk were obtained in open market
from each of the dealers and exam
ined chemically and bacteriologically.
The chemical examinations were
made at the State Agricultural
School at Manhattan, and will be re-
ported as soon as they are completed.
This will determine the amount of
adulteration of the milk, if any. The
examinations for dirt and bacteria
were made by the State Bacteriologist
at the laboratories of the Fort Hays
Normal School, and it must be admit
ted were not very fiattering to the
milk dealers of Ellis County. The
amount of dirt and bacteria found in
most of the samples were very high,
and indicated that the milk was being
handled in a very careless manner by
most of the dealers.
On account of the complaints of a
number of citizens, an investigation
was made Of the water supply of Hays
and it was found to be of good quail
ity and safe for drinking purposes.
The rumOrs circulated in regard to
the dead birds and other sources of
pollution having been found in the
tanks are without foundation. The
tanks have been inspected and thor
oughly cleaned out, and no dead birds
or other sources of contamination
were found.
It may be stated furthermore that
samples of the Hays water supply are
sent regularly to the Water and
Sewer Division of the State Board of
Health for analysis. Any source of
contamination in the water supply
would therefore be detected and re-
ported Immediately. The last analysis
was made by the State Board of
Health on June II, and the report of
that analysis states that the samples
of water sent in by Hays were in an
excellent condition from a bacteria
logical standpoint"
There is no cause for worry, there
fore, about the safety of the water
supply of Hays at this time. The
peculiar Odors and taste complained
of by. some of the consumers are prob
ably due to the new well just brought
IN, and to the new piping which has
just been laid on the east side.
On account of the harvest season
IN Hays, a larger number of county
patients have been treated by the
health officer than usual. Three cases
have been cared for at the hospital,
which required daily visits from the
health officer. One of these died on
the 28th, and was buried at the ex-
pense of the county. Two more
cases were treated at the county iail.
One of these was a surgical case re-
curing daily treatments by the health
officer.
A general survey of the tubercu-
losis situation in Ellis County was
made by the health officer, with the
view of establishing a free tubercul-
losis clinic to be held once or twice a
year by an expert furnished by the
State tuberculosis Association of
Kansas. AS a result of this survey.