The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-05-16
Health Officer Gives A
Narrative Report

AS for the experience Of communi-
cable disease. as well as deaths dur
ing the month of April of this year
it seems that we have had a very
healthful month. AS there has been an
increase in the incidence Of small
pox during the past few years we
have encouraged a more extensive use
Of this vaccine. No cases of d~iphtheria,
smallpox, or typhoid fever have been
experienced in this county. for sew
eral months. During the month OF
April 154 were immunized for small
pox, 88 were immunized against dip
htheria and, 240 were immunized ag-
ainst typhoid fever.
Venereal Disease Control
500 people were given a lecture with
regard of the control Of syphilis. A
good bit of interest is being shown by
the public with reference to this dis
ease. We believe that the white peo-
Pile are recognizing more and more
that the economic and social structure
of our government are being under
mined by the disease, syphilis. Many
people are urging hat definite fac
ilities be made available so that we
ay do everything possible to stamp
out this great killer. The demand is
ntensifying for q concerted action to
stamp out this last plague.
tuberculosis Control
, ii individuals were admitted 20
nursing service during the month and
81 field nursing visits were made in
the interest of better control OF
tuberculosis. Newspaper articles and
other means have been used to en-.
phasize the fact that tuberculosis is
definitely a public health problem.
The great problem in this county
with reference to tuberculosis is o
keep those that have the disease in
bed and away from others. Through
the cooperation of the County Tuber.
culosis Association, paper bags with
tissue is provided as a means for
safe sputum disposal for all patients
A good bit Of help is being rendered
these people through the use of com
modities." We continue to have a few
individuals that are so stubborn until
they persist in attempting to continue
their daily activities. Your Director OF
public health in this county is of the
opinion that it would be a wise ex.
penditure of public funds to provide
definite means Of caring for the in.
digent tuberculosis patients because
aany Of these patients do not feel
that they can afford to go to bed.
We are now able to shorten the stay
IN the Sanatorium Of many Of our
patients by having them start pneu-
mothorax treatment there and come
back to this county for continuation
Of the same treatment. The physi-
clans have been very cooperative in
promoting this procedure.
Maternity Service
103 cases we're admitted to medical
and nursing service during the month.
g. of these were given a complete
physical examination and those found
with conditions demanding medical at
tention were referred to their private
physician. % Of these patients have
seen their family doctor during the
month. 80 visits were made to post
partum cases and instructions given
rs to nursing car of mother and child.
The demand for the maternity service
seems to be increasing. The supersti-
tons Of the coIored race are rather
difficult to overcome and possibly
many OF our patients that nave cour-
age enough to follow instructions in
contradictions to their superstitions
feel that they are as brave as the
first person that ate a tomato.
Infant And Preschool Hygiene
rs infants were admitted to medi
cal n nursing service during the
month. 80 were seen in medical con-
ferences and given complete examine
tons and those needing medical at
tention were advised to see their
family physician. 50 visits were made.
70 the homes of these parents to
urge them to have these defects cor
rected. 1t was found that II had
visited their private physician dur
ing the month. Sc children between
the ages of one and sig were given
a complete physical examination. 81
ield and office nursing visits were