The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1934-12-13
COUNTY HEALTH HISTORY
IS GIVEN BY DR.. RILEY
Head of Health Department
Gives Number of Facts Which
People Should Know
GOES BACK ONLY TO 1881

Information as to the exact history
of the Health Department in this
county, has been obtained by DR.. E
C. Peck, health officer, from DR.. R. H
Riley, head of the State Department
of Health, at the request of the Edi.
tor of The Republican, and gives 6
number of facts which the people Of
the county should know.
The history does not include the
years 1927 to 1881, before the county
was made a full-time health unit with
a full-time health officer.
The article is not quoted in full
due to lack of space, but the full
significance of his statements may be
obtained from what is quoted.
"The county health department be-
gan to function in Garrett county or
September 1, 1881, although the coun.
ty made no contribution until Janu-
airy, 1882. From January, 1882, tc
July /, 1884, the total amount paid by
the county was S6,166.60, or an aver
age of $2,05550 per year for one
health officer, two nurses, clerk
orthopedic clinics and dental services
and for part of the time supplies Of
biological products, and free labora-
tory services.
During that time the State has
actually purchased and distributed in
Garrett county biological products
amounting to $4,681.87, at wholesale
prices. The itemized list shows where
this money was spent: typhoid vac.
zines, $929.25; smallpox vaccine
$10925; diphtheria antitoxin, S613.26;
toxoid, $1,209.63; toxin Antitoxin
$27.50; tetanus antitoxin, $428.58;
Schick test toxin, $233.24; Schick test
control, $65.96; arsphenamine, ST..
05020; bismuth in oil, $15.00-total
$4,681.87.
eff the people of Garrett county OF
its officials had been called on to pay
even moderate prices for all the
services to the crippled children OF
the county, it would cost at least
$4,000. Much of this work is done by
the Maryland League for Crippled
Children in cooperation with a medi-
cal group headed by DR.. George Ben
nett, who give their services at clinics
and in surgical care of patients free
of charge.
"Since 1929 the hospital days that
have been provided for Garrett coun-
ty children total 3,038. The total
hospital cost for that period by years
1929 to 1888 inclusive has been 49,
049.35 for which the county has moi
paid a cent.
According to Miss Mary E
Church, executive secretary of the
Maryland League for Crippled chill
dren, over 100 persons who were Grip
pied in some way have had benefit OF
treatment in the last six years
through the orthopedic clinics. About
a fourth have had operations. The
value of the hospital care alone has
amounted to nearly $4,000. The
surgeons have made no charge for
services. The majority of the young
er patients were victims of infantile
paralysis, but adults have also been
benefited. Just recently a woman
now middle aged, badly crippled from
infancy because of club feet, has been
operated on, and now can walk. An
other adult had a broken back from
a mine accident. He has been helped
and through vocational rehabilitation
service, has been taught weaving and
rug making and is self supporting.
"Three children in one family were
born with club feet. All have been
operated on, and can stand and walk
or run as other children, all because
the county health department stood
behind and pushed and aided in every
way possible.
"In the following I have shown the
total meteorological examinations
that have been made by the
laboratory during the existence
of the county health unit. The total
value of each is estimated from the
commercial rate it would cost for each