The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-03
Meiical Inspection OF Schools.


Sir-lhere is bad egg now in the nest
of the school committee, deposited there,
probably, by n knot Of allOpa bic doctors,
who dou btlt IS will endeavor IL warm up
the nest 60 a temperature whereby the egg
may latch. The chick exp cted to come
out will be- auy-hoaded, laving pot less
than go l refer 10 the proposition {, have
Loard Of medical school inspectors, rsgu-
lar M. d. s of course. to visit every school,
early in the morning, look over the
scho lars and examine them as to the state
of their health, empowered TO send home
or to the hospital such scholars as 10 them
seems meet. This is power which may
assume very arbitrary form, even to
send u child IN hospital without the
knowledge Of tseir parents. This is to
involve at The least al expense of $1,000,
and possibly $4,000.
The proposition rs presented to the
school committee proposed for the salary
of the inspectors 500 per Hnnunl, while
one doctor would have il $500. This looks
little like self interest. It is claimed
such inspection is based on the pro homo
putlico idea. the one always pleaded when
the doctors ask for. special legislation.
Let us sift the matter and see if we can
not find considerable cpaff.
The advocates of the scheme tell Us it
is mainly aimed at the spread of conta-
gious diseases, though it is intended the
medical INSPECTORS shall cognizs gener-
ally the health of the pupils. The officials
are to visit the schools curly In the morn
ing, take general survey, then make
special exam' nation of such pupils as the
teacher may point out as ailing. On ex-
animation OF the suspects the inspector
may send home or to the hospital, as be-
fore stated.
Let us probe this examination business,
in view Of certain facts which seem
significant enough to test the mntter, as
to the reliability of the inspections. Take
the somewhat eel elsbratsd Norbarg case
out Of which has grown suit against
DIR. Swarts. with an ad damnum claim
of $4,000 Several children In Mr.. Nor.
berg's family were III. DR.. Swarts de-
clared one of them had diphtheria ana
put the houss under quarantine. Subse-
quently several physicians examined IN,
family and consclentiously declared there
was no diphtherio.
Another case A young woman had an
eruption on her face. A health officer of
the city declared she had smallpox, sent
her to the pest house. where there were
smallpox patients. On her arrival there
the nurse declared tho casa was not small
pox. yet she was detained in the restifer-
ous den, her clothes being DESTROYED lest
they should 81 read the contsgion. At
length she was discharged as intact as
when she was committed Under the
circumstances, her friends demanded
compensation for the clothing destroyed.
Restitution was made, and venture 10
say the money paid was charged in the
contingent account lest the blunder
should leoDme public. Note, there was
no diphthoria or smallpox. though it was
authoritatIvely declared the diseases ex-
listed. officially declared. mind YOU.
Now, II those I'm authority make such
mistakes, not 10 say blunders, what may
he expected OF the lessar lights l. il 10
be expected that physician in full pra,.
tics will tie himself to daily visitation
OF the schools for psltry $780, or even
$500 year, II he does his visits will be
perfunotory, therefore useless. Inevitably
thoss who would naturally gravitato 10
the inspectorships would he the corporals
and high privstes Of the profession. II
those In authority diagnose as wildly as
I'm the two cases | have cited what NAV
be expected When the prentice hand"
Of tho corporals and high privatcs attempt
! TO exercise the functions of school insp g
tors bundtrirgs glnrirgly wild and
| wickedly misohisvCus. ending in stllfed
/ Ignorance, uocketing "a hundred or two
| hundrd dollars, Gs the casB may be.
without returning au equivalent
WILLIAM FOSTER, JR.
Providence, x. / March /, lsgs.