Page images
PDF
EPUB

The town of Macclenny has passed an ordinance requiring all dogs found on streets to be muzzled or killed for the next thirty days, or until all danger from the affected dogs is past.

BRADFORD COUNTY

Albert H. Freeman, M. D., Agent

In submitting my report for 1911 I am fully aware of my inability, for many reasons, to make it satisfactory either to you or to myself. In the first place we have had smallpox to deal with to a greater or less extent in March, and the work with that has taken the time that might otherwise have been given to other prob

lems.

No vital or morbidity statistics are available, but the death rate is low.

The public generally is getting an idea of hookworms and many children are now brought to our physicians to see if they are not victims of the parasites. It is a desirable condition when people are fully aroused as to the importance of the knowledge of the danger of this pest, and this much has been accomplished in overcoming the situation.

Tuberculosis is just now decreasing among the whites but increasing among the colored people, in whom immunity is less, progress swifter and mortality greater than with the whites. This increase among the negroes is a menace to the whites because, as servants in various capacities, they are intimately associated with us. They prepare the food we eat, wash and iron the clothes we wear, the handkerchiefs with which we wipe our mouth and nose. They expectorate on our sidewalks, in our stores, around our kitchens, and the "typhoid fly" becomes the tuberculous fly-we the hapless victims. What the flies leave the winds toss about and thus scatter the seed of the "great white plague."

No statistics are available as to the number of cases of smallpox actually occurring in the county last year. It was reported and found at Providence, Lake Butler, Raiford, Elarbee, Lawtey, Saxton, Hampton, Starke and outlying districts. More than 1000 people were vaccinated. This epidemic lasted from March to November, appearing and disappearing from different communities as many as four times, being driven out by vaccination and re-introduced from a new source. There were no deaths. The majority of those attacked were colored people, who were the hardest to control, often

refusing vaccination and refusing to keep away from those sick of the disease. Compulsory vaccination is needed for this class of people, who are a menace to themselves and their neighbors. In the control of this epidemic I was ably assisted by Dr. T. D. Gunter, the efficient health officer of the town of Starke, who vaccinated free of charge, excepting his meagre salary from the town, not only such citizens of Starke as presented themselves, but all others who came for that purpose. Many other physicians also gave their aid. There were probably one hundred cases.

Malaria has been more than prevalent during the year. It was also noted that there were more mosquitoes than during any previous year. No work of any extent has been done to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.

Typhoid fever seemed to be less prevalent during the year. I know of only five vaccinations against the disease. These were done by your County Agent.

Numerous private individuals have built septic tanks to take care of the sewage from their residences. Some of these are correctly built, while others are merely cesspools. The county has put in a large septic tank at the court house and jail, all well built, excepting that no provisions are made for the nitrification of the sewage. Many deep wells have been put down during 1911 by turpentine operators and private individuals. The town of Hampton has long depended upon shallow wells for her water supply. Recently an enterprising citizen, Mr. C. J. Weeks, has installed some deep wells, pump and tank, laid piping, and is now supplying those citizens who wish it, with artesian water.

Only one case of diphtheria has come to my notice during the year, and one of scarlet fever. Measles was epidemic in some portions of the county the earlier part of the year, with several deaths, directly and from the sequelæ. Some mild whooping cough has prevailed, with no deaths.

Several cases of pellagra have been observed, with one known. death and two that will probably die.* These cases were of the chronic type. Most of them have seemingly improved under treatment with arsenic, calcium sulphide and symptomatic treatment. Four cases were colored and two were white.

*These two cases died during January, 1912.

Two cases of infantile paralysis have occurred, one a twelveyear-old miss. Type of disease was rather severe. Both cases have practically recovered under treatment.

I believe the greatest agency for publicity in the campaign for health is the country newspaper. With the awakening of the people to a realization of the need of sanitation and the prevention of diseases, its value in dollars and cents, as well as relief from suffering and premature decay, will cause increasing desire for knowledge of ways and means of getting what we want, and the medium for supplying this need will be naturally the newspaper that reaches the people the country weekly. The community's greatest asset is health. To keep well we must not violate the laws of health. To avoid violation of these laws we must know them. They are taught now to our children in the public schools, but thousands of us have no access to this knowledge. The newspaper has the machinery for supplying this knowledge to the people. This is a work of conservation of our resources, enriching our state, adding to our defenses by increasing the brain and brawn of the sons and daughters of Florida, converting probable liabilities into positive assets.

The Health Notes is doing a valuable work, but is not reaching all the people, probably cannot just yet. If editors of Florida papers would carefully read this publication they would find something each month that would help their readers and hasten the health campaign. I am glad to report that our leading county paper, the Bradford County Telegraph, often aids in this work, and is in hearty accord with every movement made for the betterment of the public health.

I believe the establishment of a press bureau as an extension of the work of the Health Notes would be a good thing, supplying each week to such papers as would aid by its publication such matter as would be considered timely. Thus you could reach a larger number of people through a medium they already read, and the contents of which they believe. You could continually keep before us some educational health topics, and gradually the sentiments expressed would permeate the mind of the masses. This you are doing now with the means at hand, but might it not be more rapidly done and more effectively with this plan I have suggested?

[blocks in formation]

15

7

Number of cases of typhoid fever
Number of cases of pneumonia
Number of cases of pellagra

No cases of diphtheria nor of scarlet fever were reported.

Malaria has been very prevalent throughout the county, owing to natural causes favoring the development of the disease: a minimum amount of rainfall, unusually low water, a late autumn with extremely warm weather, favoring the growth and proliferation of the mosquito.

The hookworm waxes strong in Citrus, and is a factor to be reckoned with in the eradication of disease both among adults and children. It is hard to impress on the minds of parents the extreme importance of having their children treated for this condition. Sanitary conditions here, like in many places, are subject to criticism and improvement.

The importance of having doors and windows of homes screened, thereby keeping flies and mosquitoes excluded, is not yet fully appreciated, but, through the medium of the Health Notes the public is being educated.

CLAY COUNTY

L. C. Fisher, M. D., Agent

1911 has been an exceptionally healthy year for Clay County. Doctors who have been here for years say they have never seen so little sickness here as there was this last year.

There have been two or three cases of typhoid fever; six or seven cases of malarial fever; and these appeared only where the houses were not screened and bars were not used.

We had during the year five cases of smallpox. The disease was checked by vaccination.

Three cases of pneumonia occurred. No diphtheria and no scarlet fever.

DADE COUNTY

J. M. Jackson, M. D., Agent

Another year has passed, and it becomes my duty as agent of the State Board of Health for Dade County to report conditions. I am sorry to say that the province of the agent of the Board in this county has not been so smooth during the past twelve months as it was in the fourteen years before.

The year was ushered in with a few cases of smallpox at the Isolation Hospital, having entered during the fall of 1910 while I was on my vacation. One case in particular was that of a mother's boy whom she felt had not had sufficient care while at the hospital, although he made a perfect recovery with no ill after-effects. She began making charges against the management of the institution. This went on from time to time, and finally wound up with a presentment by the Grand Jury for Dade County, after what appeared to be a superficial examination, making serious charges against those in charge. This led your agent to ask for an investigation and for further details in the matter I would refer you to files on record in the executive office.* During this time we had nine direct importations of smallpox into Dade County, with a spread in but one instance, the whole matter ending, so far as the winter cases were concerned, early in May.

Full repair has been made to the sewerage system of the Isolation Hospital, and it has continued to work in a first-class manner; however, there is a small amount of work on the inside fittings which needs to be done as soon as a plumber can be secured who is not afraid to do the work. The house, with all bedding and furnishings, has been thoroughly cleaned and scrubbed, and in this condition closed, and remained closed (outside of the caretaker's presence and the visits of your agent) until again in November, when a case of smallpox was brought to Miami on the work train of the Florida East Coast Railway, which was promptly recognized and isolated at the hospital. The cars were thoroughly fumigated and all the crew re-vaccinated and, the period of incubation having passed, we feel certain there is no further danger from this source.

It seems almost impossible to employ a thoroughly competent man to care for the Isolation Hospital as it should be. The compensation during the period in which there are no cases has been * See Appendix.

« PreviousContinue »