The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-23
SICKNESS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HxRALD:-
The prevalence Of scarlet fever at the present time
the danger Of its spreading among school children
and the impotency Of the measures adopted for its
prevention give rise to public apprehension that
may assume epidemic form. There is disguis-
ing fact that parents feel deep anxiety and spprc
henson that the disease may be carried from schools
to their homes. and thereby endanger the lives OF
their families. I am impelled in the interest
Of public health to refer to this matter. ~
am constantly In receipt Of intelligence on
this subject from parents .nd others interested
In the welfare Of schools II may be WELL there
FORE to give the matter serious consideration.
end indicate the which experience
has proved to be the most efhcscious in
arresting the progress Of diseases of contagious
character and preventing their spread In CON-
munities through the medium of school contagion.
To elucidate the inefhcency Of the present system
By. which teachers notified Of infected houses
where pupils reside who attending their classes
which II mainly relied upon by the authorities to
prevent school contagion. will state the following
fscts:-In the year 1877. in to inquiries made
by the Committee School Hygiene of the State
Medical Society to the rate Of sickness in schools
and whether any observations had been made. an.
swered followa:-For some time past the Board Of
Health has been sending notices to the Board of
infected houses order that the teachers may dis
miss from school pupils residing in them and In the
contagious tenements. As . rule physicians
do not report such cases. Moreover. among
the poorer tenement house population physicians
are scarcely caled In before disease has
sumed = grave character. and frequently not until
the patient 10 vt the point Of death. How. them
the Board OF Health derive its In time to
make II sysilsble for the protection or the pupils
heslthf For In the meantime other children or the
same family aud those living In adjacent rooms
tinue to attend schov and thus assist in spreading
the disease without the parents or teachers having
knowledge OF the source OF the Infection. 1t IL
plain therefore that these schools tar from being
properly protected. Experience has demonstrated
that the only efficient Of afrording profession
lies In proper medical supervision and vigilsnt
watchfulness under the Board of Education. The
system of notification indicated above. IL OF no
practical value whatever for the protection OF
schools ~ may be seen from the following state
ment--As chairman of Special Committee OF the
Medico-Iegal Society / addressed circular to
Of our most experienced teachers inquring into the
efficacy OF the present mode or notification OF cases
Of sickness In the houses Of the pupils The follow
ing reply gives fairly the views OF those Addressed
menced you do not know; you never know when It
ceases and you never learn that the place has
been dsinfectcd:' Recent publications ailese that
admit the inutility of the present system.
but disclaim all responsibility; also. that the
Board of Education take the same ground. The
Board Of Health may very reasonably disclsim re-
sponsibilty. but regards the board OF Education
they have but to turn to their records and they
In lS7l72 the physician OF the Board of Education
supervised the vaccination Of the schools the largest
voluntary vaccination In schools ON record. err
cular issued by the Board of Education to the
principals Of all the schools. directing them to afford
every facility In their power. and to cooperate with
the physcisn Of the Board In such matters as he
might deem necessary to protect the health OF the
pupils. The measures adopted 1t that time carried
the schools safely through the epidemc-not q death
from smallpox occurred among the pupils. The
supervision Of the absentees account Of illness,
and their isolation during the period Of contsgion
and other measures then inaugurAted, contributed
materially to this successful result. II was also
aided by the active and cordial cooperation and in
telligent action OF the principals and teachers This
result was emfneny satisfactory to the PARENTS
tees and Boards OF Education and HEALTH In fully
stested by the records. With idea OF but
merely to aid In solving the highly important prob
lem of protection the health OF school children,
sllude 70 this matter after experience six years
OF the present system and its admitted failure. may
be pardoned III alude to the measures adopted dur
ing the epidemic referred 70 and their signal
In conclusion may remark that II ut that time tho
schools were protected by tho Board Of Education so
can they now be and at all times. II TO that
the subject H. one worthy of the serious considers
ton OF the school authorities. II. J. OSULLIvAN.