The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-02-06
REPORT OF COUNTY
HEALTH APARTMENT
CONTINUED from Page one)

have totalled 1885. los were vac
cinated against smallpox. This is
very poor showing against this
disease when we realize the great
value Of this protection, and OF.
the history of epidemics of small
pox developing in communities
which have formerly been immu-
nized, and then, following the
eradication of the disease, have
neglected to continue to protect
themselves, we. know that the
number immunized is much small
Ter than it should be. Every per-
son in our community should be
able to show evidence of immu-
nifty against smallpox regardless
of their age. 66 children were inn
munized against whooping cough.
Diphtheria immunizations which
are now required by state statute
for children before entering
school, and for all new born in
fants during their first year Of
life, show 572 immunizations.
Diphtheria is particularly danger
Gus during the early years of life,
and it is the practice OF your
Health Department to send out
letters and self-addressed postal
cards to all parents of babies
! when they reach six MOTHS Of
age. The response has been fairly
good, but considering the danger
to a child contracting the disease
and the unnecessary expense and
suffering following such an ev-
ent, we feel that the response
should be far greater than has
been the case in the past. North
Carolina has an unenviable posi-
ton among the states in the num-
Der of cases of diphtheria arising
within our territory. We can, and,
we must, wipe this disease from
the list of menaces to our child
rem. Special emphasis was put on
typhoid fever immunizations dur
| ing 1910 in order to offset the
increasing dangers to which we
were exposed following the disas-
trous flood which swept our coun-
tryside, flooding homes, over
flowing the wells and springs, and
communicating both food and wa
ter supplies. 1892, or almost II
per cent of our county's .popula-
ton, completed their immuniza-
ton against typhoid fever. There
were others, of course, immunized
by the private practitioners, and
many who had been immunized
during the preceding years
which would increase our per-
centage of immunizations to a
very appreciate figure. In spite
of the terrible conditions follow
ing the disaster we had only one
case of typhoid fever to report
during 1910.
"Venereal disease control makes
a very good showing with its to-
tai figures. There were 1926 clinic
visits made during the year, with
40 admissions to medical service.
785 treatments for syphilis, and
18 for gonorrhea, which is badly
out of balance as to the latter di-
sease. Gonorrhea is a very preva-
lent trouble and quite disastrous
in its end results. More advan-
tage should be taken of the ser
vices offered through the Health
Department and the private prac-
titioners in the treatmen of this
trouble. The prevalent pracice of
Iself-treatment and counter-pre-
scribing is mos dangerous and Of
ten results in the disease reach
ing such stage that it's future
treatment is rendered most diff
cult. Only laboratory specimens
are reported for gonorrhea as
Eagainst 1881 made for .determin-
ling syphilitic infections. :,
During the year III individ-
uals were admitted to medical
service under tuberculosis con-
itrol, and 10 were admitted to
nursing service. Some 121 flouro-
scope and x-rayN examinations
were made on old and new sub
kjects. Two new cases came under
Our supervision during this work,
+, which was largely done during
our annual chest clinic. 228 skin
TESTS were made and read during
the year, while many others were
done but failed to return for a
again" said Mark. Valerie. felt