The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-12-22
N. V. HEALTH IS SCHEDULED HERE
 AFTER 18 MONTHS

With winter on her heels, the M. V. Health, Territorial Depart ment of Health Vessel is scheduled to arrive some time today from the Boring Sea area and other points north.
 Due to arrive at the lower Gov ernment float, the floting health center will dock in Juneau for the first time since she sailed June 12, 1949, on her maiden voyage as a health ship for isolated northern coastal communities.
 The Health Department vessel operated in the Kodiak area froh1 February until June this year. Working her way north along the Aleutian Islands, Bristol Bay, Nor ton Sound and Boring Sea coast lines, the M. " Health arrived at Point Hope in August. After holding clinics in these areas, the vessel headed south to work back through the communities along the coast lines that had been by-passed on the northbound voyage.
 Savoonga and Gambel on St. Lawrence Island were on the itin- erary this year. While in this vic- inity, the ships staff and crew viewed the Siberian hills while list ening to radio reports of the first weeks of war in Korea. From St. Lawrence Island the voyage con- tinued to Little Diomede Island.
 The Health is 105-foot self-pro- pelled barge with draft of seven feet. In addition to clinic rooms, 1t is equipped with laboratory facil- ities for examining blood, sputum and water samples; X-Ray equip ment and laboratory; and quarters and galley for crew and staff.
 Health services offered include chest X-Rays, immunizations, dent al care particularly for children), clinical services for mothers and babies as well as education in in- fant care, personal hygiene, sani- tation. In addition, the program included BCG Bacillus Calmett- Guerin) vaccination for protection against tuberculosis.
 BCG vaccine has life of only five days. It was flown from Chi cago laboratories to Anchorage where Health Department person. nel re-dispatched it to the M. V. Health. Military planes assisted in delivering the vaccine to the ves- sel, often dropping it by parachute.
 The BOG planes" buzzed the ship, giving the crew time to launch small boat before the pilot drop ped the especially wrapped vaccine into the sea where it was quickly retrieved.
 Weather was frequent enemy of the BOG program whose sched- ule was a tight one due to the limited life of the vaccine, accord ing to Dr. Hazel Blair, physician in charge of the Health. Tuberculin testing of the residents was done in advance so that those with neg ative reactions would be ready to receive the BCG vaccination as soon as it arrived. If the vaccine was late in arriving, the doctor said, the BCG vaccinations some times ran well into the night.
 The Health is enroute to Seattle for drydock and the staff is taking leave until the ship begins work again in the spring. Dr. Robert L. Lathrop, dentist and Mrs. Lathrop, dtntal assistant, have already lett the ship for trip to Point Bar row before returning to Michigan where pr. Lathrop plans to open his own office.
 Capt. Robert Buchard left the vessel at Seward and a substitute captain is bringing the Health in and will take her on to Seattle. Others on board the ship when she docks here, in addition to Dr. Blair are:
 June Bagley, clinic nurse, hospital nurse; Sylvia Metcalfe, secretary; Edward Paine, master, temporary; Alfred Lindegard, assistant marine engineer; Allen c. Hanson, mate, temporary; Emil s. Samuelson, boatswain, temporary; Floyd Carr, deckhand; Aloysius Hanna, deck hand.