The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

14 The Health Bulletin October, 19.51tory is used to assist in the TuberculosisControl Program in the regular examinationsof sputum of patients and. contacts.(6) Halifax County Sanatorium—TheHalifax County Sanatorium with twenty-eightbeds plays an important partIn the Tuberculosis Control Program inthis county. Patients are not admittedto this institution until a definite diagnosisof active tuberculosis is made.After these patients are admitted here,they are given the best attention thata county sanatorium can provide. Patientsreceive essentially the same treatmentin the Halifax County Sanatoriumas is given in the State Sanatoria,with the exception of major surgery. Dr.Herman Easom of the Eastern NorthCarolina Sanatorium has commendedthe officials in Halifax County for thesplendid work being done in our sanatorium.2. Venereal Disease—Venereal DiseaseClinics are held regularly at thefollowing points in the county:Scotland Neck, Halifax County Clinic,Monday at 1:00 P. M.Enfleld, Municipal Building, Tuesdayat 1:00 P. M.Littleton, Municipal Building, Tuesdayat 1:00 P. M.Weldon, Bank Building, Friday at9:30 A. M.Roanoke Rapids, Rosemary Clinic,Friday at 1:00 P. M.All new cases of syphilis discoveredat the present time are referred to theEastern Medical Center at Durham fortreatment. Here a complete course oftreatment isgiven over a period of tendays, whereas, in the past, an eighteenmonths course was required for theadequate treatment of syphilis in localclinics. A trained investigator interviewseach new case of a venereal diseaseto learn, if possible, the contactsand source of infection in an effort toprevent the spread and to eventuallycontrol these diseases.3. Special control measures are carriedout by the Health Department incooperation with the private physiciansin other communicable diseases, suchas, diphtheria, scarlet fever, poliomyelitis,meningitis, typhoid fever andothers. As mentioned above, the HalifaxCounty Health Department Laboratoryplays an important role in thecontrol of communicable diseases.III.ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION"Sanitation is the quality of livingthat is expressed in the clean home,the clean farm, the clean business andindustry, the clean neighborhood, theclean community."1. The Halifax County Health Department,in cooperation with the StateBoard of Health, has an importantfunction in the supervision and controlof good handling places, such as, cafes,restaurants, meat markets, hotels, andothers. Regular inspections of thesefood handling establishments are madeby our food sanitarian, and a GradePosted in a Prominent Place in each ofthese establishments. EVERY CITIZENSHOULD TAKE CAREFUL NOTICEOF THE GRADE OF THESE FOODHANDLING ESTABLISHMENTSWHEN FIRST ENTERING THEM.Food handler's schools are conductedperiodically.2. Milk Sanitation—Our food sanitarianalso makes regular inspectionsof all milk producers and milk plantswithin Halifax County and also withinthe area from which milk is receivedinto Halifax County. Milk is one of thebest foods known to man, but it isalso one of the best culture media forbacteria known and, therefore, has tobe very closely supervised in order toprevent serious milk-borne epidemics.3. Rural Sanitation — Consultationservice is available to all citizens in thecounty on Safe Water Supplies and onAdequate Sewage Disposal Facilities.4. Insect and Rodent Control—Importantprograms are conducted by theHealth Department in the control ofrats and also in the control of mosquitoesand flies. For instance, a MalariaControl Program is conducted eachspring and summer for about fivemonths, during which time all homesin which there have been cases ofmalaria diagnosed by physicians are