Evening star., 1901-12-18
INSPECTION IN SCHOOLS
APPROVAL OF ESTIMATE FOR N
AUGURATION OF SYSTEM.
Committee COnferS With Commissions
ers Regarding Medical Examine
tions-Arguments Advanced.

"A
noon. the legislative committee of the Med
ical Society of the District of Columbia
had called upon the District Commission
ers and expressed approval of the esti-
mate submitted by the District board to
Congress for $500 to provide for system
of medical inspection in the public schools.
DR.. w. W. Johnston acted as spokesman
for the committee. He talked briefly along
the lines more fully detailed in a statement
that was presented in writing. 1t was
stated that although sanitary inspection of
school buildings has been in practice for
many years, medical inspection as row
understood and practiced dates back not
more than quarter of century. Medical
inspection is the outcome of municipal ef-
forts to check the spread of communicable
diseases, and is based upon the obserVa-
tion that the gathering together of chill
dren in schools is of the means. if not
the principal one. by which many diseases
are disseminated in the community.
Valuable as Aid.
THAT medical inspection is valuable
aid in preventing the spread of contagious
diseases and in saving life by the prompt
discovery of disease in children the report
states. lis shown by the gradual extension
of this system of inspection to many of the
principal cities of this country and
Europe"
Assuming that the value of a proper
system of medical inspection is generally
recognized, attention is drawn to the mode
in which such inspection is conducted In
various cities. The inspection is now prac-
ticed in Boston, New York, Chicago Jer
sey City, Newark, n. j.; Paterson, n. j.;
Denver, Minneapolis. Buffalo, Portland,
Me. and other American cities, as we'll as
in the European capitals
DR.. Johnston said the inspectors would
not examine each pupil in the schools but
those only who. the suspicion of having
some disease uniting them for school, are
set aside by the teacher for examination
and diagnosis. The medical inspectors, in
cases of contagious diseases. might see the
pupils to their homes and instruct the
parents to send for family physician and
look after a proper isolation of the pupil.
The inspectors would also trace the source
of the disease and thus be Il great aid to
the health department. In this connection
it is recommended that the inspection be
placed under the direction of the health
officer The inspectors would also serve in
a sanitary capacity and make suggestions
as to construction ventilation, etc
Exclusion From School.
THE purposes of the medical inspection
of schools, as already outlined continued
DIR. Johnston, cannot be completely exc
cuted unless provision is made for the eX-
cluSion from school, at the outset, of chill
dren not physically and mentally fit for
school life The establishment of sys-
tenn of medical inspection would doubtless
go far toward accomplishing this result,
but in order that it may be completely sue
cessful, it Is necessary to make some pro-
vision requiring that every child seeking
admission to school shall present satisfac-
tory evidence, in the form of a certificate
from the family physician or from some
other duly qualified practitioner of medi-
cine, showing that such child has been eX-
amined and found in proper condition to
begin life. This certificate might be united
with that now required on the subject of
vaccination
THE cost of maintaining medical inspec-
ton of schools would be offset, in part at
least by the improved character of the
work done by the pupils as the result of
their better health. An immediate return
can be expected, however, from the diminu-
ton of the absences of teachers resulting
from an improvement of the sanitary con-
ditions under which they work. And a
more direct return still Will result If the
medical inspection service is charged in ad-
dition with the supervision of the health
of applicants for admission to the normal
school, and of pupils in attendance there,
50 as to prevent the training at public eX
pense of pupils who will never be physical
ly able to discharge the duties of teachers.
LAS the economical administration of a
system of medical inspection of schools
depends upon the Intelligent cooperation
of the teachers, and as such cooperation
cannot be given unless such teachers have
been properly trained for that purpose, the
organization and maintenance of medical
inspection involves the special training of
prospective teachers. Lectures should be
given in the normal school on the subject
of the detection of disease. The medical
inspectors when appointed can instruct the
teachers in their divisions on the symptoms
of the more common maladieS, and in this
way the system would be much simplified.' -
Indorsement of Medical Society.
Eleven inspectors for the District would
provide one inspector for ten school build
ings, or about 4,312 pupils. In Chicago
there is one inspector for over 5000 pupils.
The statement presented to the Commits
sioners includes the Endorsement of the
medical society of the request for an ap-
preparation for the medical inspection, and
concludes with the following recommended
tionS:
That the Commissioners be requested to
have the legislation authorizing the eStab-
lishment of such system of inspection Sc
framed as to provide: That the immediate
direction and control of such inspection
shall be vested in the health officer, such
ins pectiOn to be conducted under the rules
formulated by the health officer, but duly
approved by the board of education and by
the Commissioners and that all inspectors
be appointed after competitive examination
such examinations to be conducted by the
Commissioners. to determine the fitness OF
the applicant for the duties that he may be
called upon to perform.
That the attention of the Commissioners
and of the board of education be called tC
the Importance Of having the pupils now ir
the normal school taught as thoroughly
as possible how to differentiate conditions
of health from those of disease, and espe
cially how to recognize the earliest mani
| festations of communicable diseases. so tha
when they enter upon their prospectiv,
duties teachers they may the better care
| for the health of their pupils and the NOR,
| intelligently cooperate with the medical in
| spectors.
| The Old Virginia Antique Furniture
| Company has decided to give up the
| Washington branch at New York ave. anl
| 18th st. They are closing out their entir,
| stock at discount of 20 per cent; all goods
| marked in plain figures. They have the
| largest and rarest old original collection il
| this country to select from. This is a rar,
| opportunity to secure strictly high-class ole
TOrisinal pieces at extraordinarily low prices
Old Va. Antique Furniture Co., New Yorl
| ave. and 1ith st. n.w.-Advt.
| Installation of Presbyterian Minister
Rev. w. S. Hutchison of Callensbure
| Pa, having accepted the call to Westm:n