The Story of Empire Country

A public health lesson disguised as a soap opera, The Story of Empire County, complete with studio organ to set the mood, was produced by the New York State Department of Health and the State Radio Bureau.

The stories follow the adventures of Dr. Walter Bell, Commissioner of Public Health for the fictional New York County of Empire. Empire County gets its fair share of interesting ideas from the State Department of Health, and while the proposed programs sound like they might be beneficial, the local businessmen who will wind up paying for them usually balk at the thought of such sweeping changes that they cannot see the practicality of. At least, until the very situation touches their lives.

When the State suggests that everyone admitted to County Hospital be given a chest X ray to screen for TB, the local automobile dealer resists. That very weekend, the businessman's beloved nephew takes a big hit in the football game. The doctor, looking for possible internal injury, naturally takes a chest X ray. The film is negative for injury, but there is a shadow on the lung.

When the debate over fluoridation of the local drinking water comes up, the local busy body puts up a furious argument at the civic council meeting. Immediately after the meeting he meets with his grand daughter who is not only excited to only have two cavities, she is very familiar with the reasons fluoridation is beneficial.