The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-21
Effort to Have II Intro
duCed in Schools.
DIR. CHAPLIN AN ADVOCATE
Superintendent Tarb.ll Also Sup
ports the System.
1T WOULD BE OF GREAT BENEFIT

While there has been, as yet. little COM
plaint in regard TO the bringing of such
diseases as scarlet fever. diphtheria, and
the like into the public schools it Is
quite certain that there is more or iess
danger of inf ctiop, owing to the neglect
OF proper fumigation ana disinfeotioii,
ON the part Of parents Of children recover
ing from contagious diseases, and also 10
the fact that children are so often allowed
recovery is positively assured. In orier
to nreyent this danger medical Inspection
has been decided very essential by mum
Der Of city officials and would douttess
bs recommended ty parents. guardisns
and teachers alike.
This proposed inspection is not merely
for the purpose Of disc ,vering courageous
disesEes sucn ns scarlet fever. ctc., tut also
thoss OF a more common nature and ap-
rearence; viz, eczema, scrofuls, ring worm,
etc.. and also spinal diseases. These 1t IL
claimed, should certainly be made tho
subject of close Inspection, as they are
quite prevalent in many sehuols and are
of dangerous nature if no steps are
taken to pre- ent their spread. In regard
to the important subject superintendent
OF Health Chaplin stated in his last report
to the city council that the daily medical
H. spection Of schrols is n matter which Is
now receiving attention I'm many cities.
Boston was the pioneer In this. havir z
innugurated the ,ystem in the fall CT 1894
IL gave yeiy aeneial satisfaction, and hhs
tesn continued ever since. During the
year 1895 he pi ysiciaDs examined during
tseir visits TO the schools in Bosto1, TO-
373 children who were ILL., 20il of them
too i'll TO remain in school. OF contscious
diseases In the schools there vere found
az casss Of diphtneria, 20 of scarlet fever,
l16 of meas sles, besides very many more
minor affections. That just as mat Y
cases of dis, as, are attending our schools,
1 have no reason TO doubt" says DIR.
Chaplin. EVEN now, without special as.
sistance, / find cases Of contagious dis
case attending school and Doubtless thsre
nre II any which are never recognized,
and which are tie cause of infection
which it Is sometimes so difficult to un-
der. tsnd.
"But there are also prsaG numb,r of
other ailments among children, especially
of the rooror classes, which are lie elected
because of the apathy or ignorance Of the
parents. Diseases of the spine. defects In
the eyes and the ears contagious skin dis-
eases and faults of general nutrition, are
to lie found in nearly every school. The
medical Inspectors are to visit each scnool
early in the morning session, and tx-
anime such children as the teacher may
Suggest, or as fall under their own ohssr-
yaitou. lt 4 not intendei that ths iu-
spector shall prescribe for any casa, bnt
to recommend that the child bs taken 10
the family physician, or the hospital for
treatment. IL is expected that the In
spector will also look up at their hon es
such children as may te suspected 10
have contapi ious disease.
.'It seems tn me also that tha INSPECTORS
can accomplish muoh gcou In the way OF
in.trucitng the teachers In reg ird 30 ths
recognition suspected cases, tie en-
forcement Of the rules OF the neaith ce
par riment, the care CT the children S eye-
sight, and the management OF the heat
ing and ventilation. IL seems TO me that
about thirty Inspectors would Re nseot
i'm Providence ana / should hops that the
system could be extended so as TO include
toe parochial schools ms well rs tie public
tchools 1t is believed that the service
could te obtained by compensation Of
800 per anuum for each INSPECTOR -
Superintenoent of SCHOOLS Tartells also
IA slso an ardent advocats Of medical In
spection in the public schools, for he be-
heyes the introduction Of such a system
would be productive Of mucn benefit To
the community as n whole. MIR. Iartell
was of the opinion that the direction the
department of medical inspection should
bs PLACED in tho hands of lily Physicisn
Chaplin ana not in the hands of the school
COMMITTEES, although he should desire to
have something to say es To what OF the
duties of the proposed medical officers
should be. It Is very probable that the
matter will b. trought 10 the attention OF
the city courcil in the very near future,
as the re suit of the concerted action upoL
the part Of the school COMMITTEES and the
tealth depertmet.