New-York tribune., 1903-02-25
THOSE SCHOOL NURSES.
Fifteen More Just Appointed-Funny Little
Patients

Me mamma wants to thank yu fer showing
her how to make me eyes we'll" cried TOT yes
terday. leaving the group of youngsters ABSORBED
in making chalk marks very muddy DIT
of tagging in the heart OF the lower East Sioe
to lay forcible hold of Miss Rogers OF the Henry
Street Nurses Settlement. who was passing. me
eyes is all well now the mite continued, stretch-
ing those organs to their widest. 'but guess me
little bruvver's eyes is going to be BAD tAh'no
yus coming back again. ain't yu?
Since Miss Rogers began her work In the puoiic
schools last October she has become an important
person with the little people of the lower city
streets and the fact that she no longer makes the
rounds personally but has now the supervision oi
the twenty-six nurses on duty, in nowise lessons
her Importance in the eyes of her small nero wor-
shippers.
Fifteen of the twenty-six nurses were detalleo
for duty this week this increase in the force
being made possible by the appropriation OF soo'-
900 granted the Board of Health the first OF
the year. About of these work In Brooklyn
and the others in Manhattan, each visiting Iour
or five schools in the course of each school day:
The schools have been equipped with lockers
for the supplies needed by the nurses, and, where
there is only the play room to treat the It'ie
patients in, screens and low chairs have peeh
added. When the doctor begins to make MS
rounds long line of halt and manned ana
lame and blind to speak, begins to form on
the way to the stationed usually In the
basement. Fearing possible abuse OF the Priv
lege doubtless, physicians have been forolddeh 10
performance of their public school duties AT hrst
they could do no more than send home or to the
dispensary such children as they thought unht
to remain. Now they sent to the VISITING
nurse. who applies salves and bandages TO oIulSeu
fingers and toes boracic acid to irritated eyelids
and binds up broken hearted" generally III
any case too serious for such simple remedles
the nurse sends the child with note to either
hospital dispensary-
1t is considered quite episode in the primary
department to-day to "go down to the nurse
and rather a distinction be singled out as hav-
ing a serious disorder. Very crestfallen inoeeo
appear the small faces Of those sent back with
you're well you needn't come 10 me any
more" from the nurse. This means an ignominlous
return TO the ranks of the healthy and uninterest
ing with no more feeling from a sympathetic
nurse no more brave little boy" good little
girl so sorry, dear badges Of great dis
tinction shape of clean white bandages.
! No nurse 1 isn't WELL" protested one big-eyed.
pale-faced little chap Use got an awful sore
throat"
Where" asked the nurse, mechanically. as she
applied vaseline to half healed cash across an
other youngsters forehead
''All round here and here-and here" replied the
little fellow, his grimy hands wandering aimlessly
over his knees and the calves OF his legs.
Threats swathed in yards Of dirty flannel with
a good coating of CRIME beneath are presented Ior
treatment as well as hands aqG 1s faces sG es
ure applied. Eczema and weak eyes are the com
| of the ailments arising from unclean heads These
are by all odds the most numerous. and from some
| schools small regiments are sent down from lHe
classrooms for treatment. Kerosene is the most
>.Ain't got no kerosene" protested midget.
| But your could buy little. couldn't
| she?''
But you need only two cents WORTH, d m, m SURF ri11
remember TO keep away from the fire after she puts
| You know what win happen if you do?"
you'll go up in smoke promptly suggested an
urChin in the waiting ranks :.
| and Vet the case needs CONTINUOUS treatment the
nurse visits the home between her school duties.
II is in. this way that Miss Rogers secured such
| large circle of aequaintanees.
| little Puscalini Bonecorda, who happened to be
at the head of the rank yesterday IN an ollVer-st
Puscalini had encountered a lump of coal that
| was flying ainlessIy through the air few days
ago Nobody had thrown it, of course. as nobody
| into trouble But PuscaIini had caught it never
| theless. and there were numerous little strips OF
court plaster be taken off yesterday for clean
| ones to go on, and each ''hurted so bad the
waiting their turn form a most interested audience
and tender hearted little sisters weep in sympathy
record book for each school is kept every case,
returns I i made 1 to the board Of Health The
| ing of names alone is no small matter Some chill
correctly, and few have to be helped Out at
6o'h by olqer Classate Hg boIi Is 9I
newly detailed nurse scented some sort OF practl-
| peared rapid succession
One small Specimen, whose eyes were in such a
| condition simple neglect that wet cotton had
| TO be applied for some time before examna-
ton was possible to sleep in the corner where
| she was placed with the mostened bandage over
| her ewes The attendant nurse had taken eff her
long white apron and slowed it away in the stout
| handbag which seems to be badge of the pro-
fession, before the little patient was discovered
Rather shamefaced the little thing looked as she
was reused and found herself quite alone.
But / don't care" she said after a minute;
they'll Just think you kept me cause you liked me
more'n them
A few physicians have complained that the in
stailation of assistants increases their
own duties unnecessarily. But as this does not
appear possible if the physcian's work has been
Thoroughly done the Board of Health hopes to
increase the force steadily as means permit About
hundred schools in the two boroughS are now
under the nurses supervision. Only graduate and
exnerienced nurses. Of course, employed, is
the case in London, where for years a similar
system has been in force in the schools.