The Lexington advertiser., 1940-10-03
Health Dept. Makes
Summary On Services

Practically all of US have enough
Scotch in our systems, and by Scotch,
mean that innate desire to feel that
we are getting a bargain. Those OF US
that are conscientious enjoy having the
conviction that we are doing job well
or that we are at least earning what
we are being paid. 1t is for that reason,
that | enumerate those activities OF the
Health Department on which we keep
record. / find that during the first
nine months of this year, 4,926 services
have been rendered in the control OF
communicable disease. 4,597 services
have been rendered in the control of ve-
neral disease. This includes 1854 treat
ments administered. 1878 services have
been rendered with the purpose of con-
trolling tuberculosis. 2.183 services have
been rendered to the maternity patients.
3,769 services have been rendered to the
infant and preschool child. 702 services
have been rendered for the school child.
| 81 services in the interest of adult hy-
giene, Ia services in the interest of NOR
bidity patient and lot services to the
| crippled child have been rendered dur
| ing the first nine months of this year.
| 2,9l2 services have been rendered in the
| interest of general sanitation and L.
| 220 services in the protection of food
and milk have been rendered. 1911 lab
oratory specimens have been examined,
making a total of 29,242 services render
ed during the first nine months of the
year. The average cost of these services
has been 20 cents. There is no way Of
evaluating public health service in dol
lars and cents. However, from the SER
vices rendered, we will take the one
most frequently requested. If we fig
ure this service at one-half the COM
monty requested price for rendering this
service and subtract the direct cost to
the taxpayers of Holmes county Of op-
Grating the Health Department, we find
that we have a profit of $5,862.50 above
the cost. In other words, if our most
frequent service was done at one-half
price, we would still come out with
net profit of $6,862.50 above total cost
of operating the Health Department in
Holmes County during first nine months
of this year. This is only one of the
173 services rendered by your Health
Department.
We have always thought of public
health as that activity in which we are
united in the prevention and control OF
disease However, it may be interest
ing to note that $34,67736 in new busi-
ness and labor has been brought to the
county this year not including the sal
aries paid the personnel or the w. P. A.
workers or the N Y. A. workers in the
office here and not including the WPA
Malaria Control projects. Of course,
we know that there is even more than
this, but of this amount we have defl-
mite records.
Now let us see if anything is beng
done in the control of diseases. During
the years 1925-26, there were 109 cases
of typhoid fever reported in Holmes
county. During the years 1878, there
were cases reported. During the years
1928, there were 231 cases of tuber-
culosis reported. Ten years later dur
ing 1878, only al cases were report
ed There has not been a case of small
pox in Holmes county since 1882. We
know that there is one disadvantage in
reporting thetse figures; that is, many
people will feel that if there are no or
few cases of typhoid fever and smallpox
why should | be vaccinated? One fact
to be emphasized over and over again
is that we should be protected against
disease before we are exposed to it
because it is then often too late.
Yours very sincerely,
L. II. EUBANKS, NJ. ID.
Director Holmes County Health Dept