Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-12-20
5000 PERSONS
EXAMINED AT
CHEST CLINICS

persons were examined at the chest
clinics held throughout the counties
under the joint direction of the State
Department of Health and the Mary
land tuberculosis Association. The
chest clinics are among the activities
made possible through the sale of the
Christmas tuberculosis seals. Speak
ing of the clinics, DR.. r. III. Riley, Di-
rector of the State Department OF
Health said: 'The figures give some
idea of the volume of work done, but
a glimpse into the individual records
gives a much better understanding Of
the human side of the service render
ed.
"Here's a story of that sort. In
October, 1884, a young woman was
brought to one of the county clinics
fir examination. She was under 20,
was out f work. She had been troubled
a baby a few weeks old and the other
a year and a half old. Her husband
as out of work. She had been troubled
by continuous cough, with expec-
toration, and the husband went to
the County Health Officer for advice.
At the chest clinic, where she was
examined, at the request of the FAM
ily physician, she was found to have
a moderately advanced case of tuber-
culosis of the lungs.
"About two weeks later she enter
ed the State Sanatorium at Sabillas-
vile, but made little progress at first
because of her anxiety over the lit
tie family at home. The public health
nurse from the County Health De-
partment, kept in close touch with
the family and made regular visits
to the home. A few days after the
mother went to the Sanatorium, the
younger of the two babies developed
a cold, and was taken to the Johns
Hopkins Hospital for care and treat
ment not available at home. Tuber-
culosis had already set in. The baby
died, day or two later.
Progress on the part of the moth
er was further delayed by the news
of the baby's death. But eventually
she began to improve and then gain
ed steadily. In April, five and a half
months after her admission to the
Sanatorium, she had improved so
much that she was allowed to go home
The disease had been taken in time.
To use medical term, it had been
arrested. She was practically well
again. She reports back to the clinic
regularly for follow up examination.
She has kept we'll and has been able
to take up her household duties. In
the meanwhile the husband is back at
work and the little family is on it's
feet again.
"While the young woman was at
the Sanatorium, the other members
of the family-her husband, the older
child, her three brothers, her father
and her mother-were all examined.
One of the brothers showed signs of
early tuberculosis. He was advised
as to the necessary care. He has been
following the treatment at home, and
is on the way to recovery. The sis
ter and brother apparently contracted
the disease in childhood from an aunt,
who lived with the family and who
had tuberculosis. The baby contract
ed it from the mother. Three gene
rations wer accordingly involved. In
checking the disease in the sister and
brother, the links in what would prob
ably have been an endless chain of
infection, were broken. The early
discovery of the disease, and the will
ing cooperation of every member of
the family in the plucky fight, had
much to do with the successful out
come.
"This is the kind of service you are