Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-07
HEAL.THRECORD
SHOWS SBIC DROP
IN DISEASES
ONLY 81 Cases of COmmunic-
able Diseases Reported
In January
TWO SMALLPOX CASES
Total of 317 Laboratory Tests Are
Made During Month-Other Health
Work Announced by Department

A summary of the work accomplish
ed by the city health department dur
! ing the month of January follows:
While we had few more cases of
! the various communicable diseases
reported during January, than we had
! in December, yet they were far less
/ in number than in previous years. In
! January 1920, 255 cases were re-
ported. In January 1921, 1l9 cases
were reported.
I In January 1922, only 81 cases were
reported. As a rule, more cases of
pneumonia are reported during Jan
uary and February, than in any
other months of the year. In fact, the
general disease rate is higher during
, these two months. 1t will be seen by
the above comparative record, that our
disease rate for the month of Janu-
AIRY, was exceptionally low.
During January we had two cases
. of smallpox. One of these cases a
very mild one, was q little colored
child who came here from Washing
ton while sick with the disease. The
other case, a very severe one, was
that of colored woman who had
never been vaccinated. Both of these
cases were promptly located and quar-
antined. We also vaccinated Al peo-
pie living about that section. and up
to this date, no other cases have de-
veloped, nor do | expect any, as every
possible precaution has been taken to
hold the disease where it was found.
1 About the usual number of inspec-
tions of restaurants, meat markets,
stores. and other food and drink
! handling establishments were made
during the month. ITO pounds of
! tuberculous meat was condemned and
destroyed by this department. IA
Sanitary complaints were investigat-
ed and acted upon, also "a general
complaints.
In the laboratory we made 3l7 tests
during the month We make tests OF
the city water every day except Sun
day. ! might explain here that each
! daily sample of water is actually
given three tests, the 'presumptive,"
"confirmative," and final" And
while we record these three tests in
our official records as one, yet they
are actually three distinct tests, and
the number of such tests made month
! ~ and noted in the detailed report of
our laboratory, should be multiplied
by three, in order to fairly repre-
sent the actual work done.
Venereal Clinic-ln our Venereal
Clinic, we treated 40 patients, and
gave total of $50 treatments dur
ing the month of January.
General Clinic for Advice and Treat
mcnt of the City Poor-In our Gen
eral Clinic for the poor of our city,
we gave total of 1l5 examinations
and treatments. Many of these treat
men.s were given at the homes Of the
patients. Our nurse also rendered
service to many.
! General Remarks-The great storm
during the last week of January, bad
" hampered all of our outside work,
but fortunately we had things in
fairly good shape before it struck us.
/ Taken all in all the month of Jan
uary was exceptional, in that our dis
{ caste and death rate was very low.
when compared with the past two
years.
LOUIS F. FOULkS, NJ. d.
City Health Officer, and Assist
ant Collaborating Epdcmlologist, L.
; s. Public Health Service.