The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-03-23
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES IN
THE COUNTIES OF MD.

Maryland now has the distinction
of having full-time health service in
every county in the State. Caroline,
the last county to accept this service,
went on a full-time basis in January
1894, with the appointment of DR..
Louis S. Welty as health officer.
The cumulative effect Of this
countrywide service is shown, to a
certain extent, in 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 1888"
The report summarizes the activities
of each county in the general control
Of communicable diseases; in the
care and supervision of persons suf-
fering from tuberculosis; in i'm
munization against diphtheria, ty-
phoid and smallpox; in The health
supervision of mothers and young
children; in dental care of young
children, in the medical examination
and inspection of school children; in
sanitary inspections and in general
sanitary supervision of recreationai
and industrial camps and in miscel-
laneous dutiesi. 1t also gives the
total figures for ali counties.
C;,,oo 4l,o prouopf;o,, and a0ntro1
of infectious diseases occupies SO
large a part of the health officers
time, that item naturally has first
place in the report. During the
last year, 18,548 cases OF communi-
cable disease were reported to the
State Department of Health, and g.
016 home visits were made by the
health officers to discover sources of
infection, and to establish the neces-
sary protective measures to prevent
the spread of the diseases; 1888
young children were immnnized-
that is, protected against diphtheria;
6,186 persons were vaccinated
against typhoid fever, and 5,349
were vaccinated against smallpox.
In this and other work they had the
full cooperation of the practicing
physicians.
In connection with the activities
for the control of prevention of tu-
berculosis, 1921 visits were made by
the county health officers and the
county public health nurses under
their direction, to persons suffering
from that disease. In cooperation
with the Maryland Tuberculosis As
ISOLATION, 185 chest clinics were
held, at which 1858 persons were
examined for. evidence of tuberculos-
is; 1866 new cases were added to
those under supervision and ATS
were placed in hospitals or sana-
toria.
In connection with the work of in
fants and young children, 72S child
health conferences were held during
the year, at which 1894 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
carried on in cooperation with the
State Department of Education.
Practically all elementary schools in
the counties were visited; 74,315
children in the elementary grades
were given a physical examination
and 1926 were inspected in con-
nection with the control of commune
cable diseases in the schools.
Over 1900 sanitary inspections
were made, and biological supplies,
totaling 15,S4S, such as vaccines,
anti-toxins, disinfectants, and other
emergency supplies for use in the
the control of communicable diseas-
es, were distributed, from the CEN
tiers maintained throughout the
counties.