The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-03-02
% COUNTIES NOW HAVE
FULL-TIME HEALTH UNITS
Service Is Available To Ninety
Eight Percent of Population

1AASAAb Il SANSAAO Va Il OHuAGStAO1N
Maryland has the distinction Of
having full-time health service in %
of the % counties in the State. Stat
ing it in terms of population, over
$4,000 of the 100000 people living
in the counties of Maryland, or SO
percent Of the total population of the
counties, have such service. St.
Mary's county-the latest addition to
those having such service went on
a full-time basis in January, 1888,
with the appointment Of DIR. David T..
Bowden, as health officer. The only
county still on a part-time basis is
Caroline.
Some idea of the cumulative effect
Of this countrywide service may be
gathered from a report prepared by
DR.. R. H. Riley, Director of the State
Department of Health, on "Public
Health Activities in the counties of
Maryland, during 1882" The report
summarizes the activities of each
county in the general control of COM
1nunicable diseases; in the care and
supervision of persons suffering from
tuberculosis; in immunization, or pro-
lection against diphtheria, typhoid
and smallpox; in the health super.
vision of mothers and young children;
in dental care of young children; in
the medical examination and inspec-
ton of school children; in sanitary
inspections and in general sanitary
supervision of recreational and indus
trial camps, and in miscellaneous
duties. 1t also gives the total figures
for all counties.
Because the prevention or control
of infectious diseases occupies so
large a part of the health officers
time, that item naturally has first
place in the report. During last year,
1855 cases of communicable diseas-
es were reported to the State De-
partment of Health, and 10,74S home
visits were made by the health officers
to discover sources of infection, and
to establish the necessary protective
measures to prevent the spread of the
diseases; 14,050 young children were
immunized-that is, protected against
diphtheria; 5,774 persons were vacci-
mated against typhoid fever, and s.
$40 were vaccinated against smallpox.
In connection with the activities for
the control OF prevention of tuber-
eulosis, 9,035 visits were made by the
county health officers and the county
public health nurses under their di-
rection, to persons suffering from that
disease. In cooperation with the
MARYLAND tuberculosis Association,
2O4 chest clinics were held, at which
1920 persons were examined for evil
dences of tuberculosis; 1850 new
cases were added to those under
supervision and 425 were placed in
hospitals or sanatoria.
In connection with the work for in
fants and young children, TIA child
health conferences were held during
the year, at which 1O,957 babies and
young children, under school age
were examined, about half of the
number in preparation for their ad-
mission to school. Supervision of the
health of the older children, was car
ried on in cooperation with the State
Department of Education. Practical
" all elementary schools in the coun-
ties were visited; 44,081 children in
the elementary grades were given
physical examination and 1852 were
inspected in connection with the con-
troll of communicable diseases in the
schools.
Over 10000 sanitary inspections
were made, and biological supplies,
totaling 11,441, such as vaccines, anti
toxins, disinfectants, and other emer-
gency supplies, for use in the control
of communicable diseases, were dis
tributed, from the centers maintained
throughout the counties.