The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1960-10-20
Activity Report of
Health Department
Given By Officer

A report of activities of the
Health Department has been re-
leased by Dr. Arthur Jones, health
officer.
Through the month of August
the big activities Of the Health De-
partment have been the conduct
and control of what threatened to
be an epidemic of Poliomyelitis.
Somerset County Pennsylvania
started in July with an exception
ally large number Of cases and one
case appeared in the northern part
of this County. In the middle of
July, a woman, mother of six chill
dren, from the southern central
section Of the county developed
Polio and died shortly after being
admitted to Pittsburgh hospital
AT the same time her child. age
one year, and a young adult were
in the Garrett County Memorial
hospital diagnosed as Poliomyelitis.
with another infant a suspicious
case. This threw the county into
panic and great numbers cIamored
for immunizations adults as well
as children Under the circum-
stances the Health Department let
down the bars and offered immuni-
zation to all those who appeared at
the clinics for the service. Extra
clinics had to be set up in Oakland
and throughout the county to
handle the load. Supplies of vac
cine, and syringes became a prob
lem. Despite emergency orders and
borrowing all available vaccine.
several clinics had to be tcrmi-
mated when supplies ran out. Late
in August the Department was
visited by Doctor Glen f. Ores
ham, Epidemiologist from the Cen
trail Health Department, to study
the spread of the disease.
Administration
In early August the Health Of
ficer started negotiations with the
idea of setting up in this Depart
ment an Eye Clinic. In our present
set up children must be transported
to Cumberland for this service. Re
fractions and glasses have been
furnished for the eligible through
funds from the Oakland-Mountain
Lake Park and kitZmiller Lions
Clubs and the Friendsville and
Grantsville Rotary Clubs and the
County Red Cross. We are hoping
these funds can be available for
the local clinic. Also we are hoping
to have donated most of the equip
ment needed.
The Department was visited by
Doctor Ton van Strein, D.S.HO.
of Allegany County Mrs Ella Ever
slime, Psychiatric Social worker Of
Allegany and Garrett Counties and
Doctor William Edwards, recently
appointed consultant in Psychiatry
for the western counties of Mary
land The purpose Of the meeting
was to determine a Mental Hygiene
program for this and Allegany
County. This resulted in many sug-
gestionS rather than a definite pro-
gram.
In the middle Of the month, there
was a large outbreak Of dysentery
in a boys camp located on Deep
Creek Lake. The camp was visited
by the Health Officer accompanied
by a Health Nurse. The premises
were inspected and all the sick
examined. All the afflicted were
recent arrivals from Washington
D. c., and the illness was thought
to be an entero-virus infection the
boys brought with them. Instruc-
tons were left as to how to prevent
the spread of the infection.
The Health Officer had the priv
lege during the month to examine
the candidates for both the North
ern and Southern High School
football teams. This is privilege
because it furnishes the Health
Officer with first hand information
on the general health OF the school
population. The Health Officer al
SO examines many Boy Scout, Girl
Scout, Brownies, Cubs and other
groups when the opportunity pre-
sents One thing that came to light
in these examinations, was the APP
palIing amount of severe dental
carries in what probably is our up