Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1938-05-26
Death Rate Shown
To Follow Closely
Usual Low Range
Health Department In Mont
gomery County Makes
Annual Report

In Ine annual report OF the Mont
gomery County Health Department
the general death rate is shown to
follow closely the usual low range of
the county, that of the white popula-
ton being 1913 per thousand and the
colored 1850. The white infant mortal
ity took a big drop. The deaths of
white infants was 52.5 per thousand;
white births in 1886 and 32.4 in 1897.
Diphtheria-Forty-two diphtheria
cases were reported for the year. The
need for protecting pre-school chill
dren against this disease was empha-
sized. Only 33 per cent are protected
at present. The pre-school age is the
one in which diphtheria is most apt
to be fatal. A simple hyprodermic in
lection of toxoid is all that is neces-
sary; although it is safer to follow
this later on with Schick test to be
sure that immunity has been estab-
lished.
Typhoid Fever-The county had
only 16 typhoid cases and one death.
Six of the cases occurred in a small
outbreak in Prathertown.
Venereal Diseases progress
was made in increased clinic attend
ance and better clinic standards the
program is still on too small scale
to stamp out the disease. Arsenical
and bismuth preparations dispensed
by the laboratory to private physici-
ans was equivalent to approximately
as many Office treatments as those
given at Health Department clinics.
Tuberculosis-No important change
in the tuberculosis program was
made during the year. X-rays were
taken on each new clinic patient and
the funds raised in the Seal Sale Cam
paign enabled the clinic to purchase
it's own machine in the first part of
1888, and save the trouble of send
ing patients to hospitals in advance.
The patients cared for in sanatoria
were equivalent to 1888 patient days
or nearly that of 20 bed hospital
fully occupied.
Records of new cases indicate a
great need for earlier diagnosis
among persons living in rural parts
of the county.
Child Hygiene-The low attendance
at the county's maternity clinics indi-
Gated lack of progress in the i'm
portant field of parental care. Toward
the end of the year, however, a new
type of clinic was established, a
clinic to which are invited not only
expectant mothers but also infant and
pre-school children. These will be
more accessible to the rural areas and
should therefore be better attended.
Public health nurses made nearly
three times as many visits to the
homes of infant and pre-school chill
dren. Visits to new born babies can
now be made much sooner after birth
because local registrars, under new
plan, are sending Immediately postal
card reports of births.
Four thousand fifty-nine school chill
dren were given medical inspection.
At the examination of kindergarten
and first grade pupils, parents are
urged to be present so as to discuss
with the physician the condition Of
the child. Twenty-three per cent re-
sponded to this invitation.
Dental Clinics-The dental clinic
held 1151a all-day sessions and
treated $50 children. A service for
colored children was added to the
dental clinic program in May and this
was continued in the fall. The colored
Parent Teacher Federation deserves
praise for raising $4,000 for this
work in the spring and an additional
$500 for the following school term.
Crippled Children-Three orthoped-
ic clinics were held during the year.
these CllDlCS are run tiiOuSu IhC W.
operation of the American Legion,
Montgomery County General Hospit-
al, the Maryland League for Crippled
Children, Board of State Aid and
Charities and the Social Service Lea
que. -->.
Takoma Health Unit-On Septem-
Der LIST an additional nursing unit was
set up in Takoma Park. The area
covered by the nurse extends partly
into Prince Georges County and
funds from the State and from
Prince Georges County Commission
ers were secured to cover the Prince
Georges work in proportion to the
population included. This unit has a
health center in the Takoma Fire De-
partment building and is supported by
an active and enthusiastic health COM
nlittee.
New Room-Shortly after the end
of the year additional space was OBJ
tanned in the old Court House which