The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-02
ASK FOR HELP.
President of Board of Health to
Physicians.
Requested to Volunteer Ser
vices for School inspection.
THEY WILL RESPOND.
Medical Inspector Will Visit
Each School Daily.
Plan Which Is Followed in
Other Cities.
THEY WILL RESPOND.

DR.. c. F. Nenninger, president Of the
city board of health, today sent out a
form letter to the doctors of Topeka,
asking them to subscribe voluntarily
and without charge their services for
the daily medical inspection of all the
schools in Topeka
The plan is not a new one. Such cities
as Cincinnati ST. Louis and Denver
have tried its workings. and now recog-
nize the system as important to the
city's welfare as any Of the regular
statute established offices. All of the
doctors in the city who are willing to
give their services free, hand in their
names to the board of health. This
body then assigns one to each school, to
which place he must make a daily visit
Tor the purpose of examining such stu
dents or pupils who are suspected of
having communicative or contagious
diseases. In this way the spread of any
sickness can be headed Off It can be
caught in its early stages, and prevent
ed from running along until a great
many children have been exposed
expect at least 80 per cent of the
doctors OF the city to take up with the
plan" said DR.. Menninger today. This
morning two prominent physicians tele-
phoned me and volunteered their SER
vices, merely from the statements which
they had heard about the probable in
auguration Of the system. The board
will not only get the aid of the young
practitioners, but Of the best physicians
in the city.
There are only four cities in the
United States that have a paid system
of inspection. Chicago, Boston, New
York and Philadelphia. But there are
no less than 20 cities, such as Cincin-
natl, Rochester, Buffalo, st. Louis, Des
Moines and Denver that use this sys-
ms
takes no more time than an ordinary
call. Our instructions to the teachers
read that all children suspected of
having a communicable disease be ia
ken to the principals Office and there
examined by the doctor who has been
assigned that school This doctor is
not only acting as the physician for
one family but in reality as the dag
nostician for the whole neighboring
community.
This is not an experiment by any
means The plan has been carefully
worked out and there is world of
credit to be placed to it. I have made
particular study of the conditions in
Buffalo, Pittsburg. Cincinnati and De-
trOit The health authorities are able
to prevent the spread of the disease
They have found about so per cent
more of the diseases right in the
schools, communicative ones. not only
eruptive, but such as sore throat, sore
When children are afflicted with such
troubles it is dangerous to have them
in school, drinking water from the
same cup. 1t is absolutely necessary
to check these troubles at their very
start.
Mayor BergundthaI and majority
of the council have endorsed the plan.
superintendent William Davidson of
over the scheme. and wants its adop-
ton by all means. We will put il into
operation just as soon as the doctors
who reply favorably to the letter can
be assigned to certain schools.
city Physician Storrs and one other
doctor criticised the plan, saying that
it would not pan out well because
there is no pay attached to II. But
believe that very fact will aid IN max
ing it more effective. 1t will be a
matter of honor with the doctors. They
all do charity work every day and
work as hard on those cases as on 9TH
ers I fear no laxity of interest be
cause the board cannot offer the medl-
cal examiners of the schools a salary.
The following notice, headed 'Medl-
cal inspection of the Schools, is be-
ing sent with each of the letters to the
doctors. 1t explains in detail the
WORKINGS of the new plan of the health
"A medical inspector visits each
school in the morning about the same
.sRefore his arrival each teacher win
have sent to the principals room any
pupil who may be suspected of having
some communicable disease or who has
been absent from school,
1.-The medical inspector Immediately
examines all pupils thus detained IN
the principals room, and any child
found with a communicable disease or
anv symptoms of such disease is at
once sent home with notice signed
bv the principal of the school inform
ing the parents of the child's condition
and advising them to send for a
I'm no case does the medical in
spsctor prescribe for the child or have
ANYTHING to do with it except at school,
unless subsequently, called by parent
or guardian.
school on account of disease REQUIRED
to be auarantined by the board Of
health, notice is sent immediately to
the health officer. The home of the
child is then auarantined. and the
school, or q least the room from which
the child came promptly and thor
oughly disinfected.
For the examination of the Threats
Of children the examiners are provided
with wooden tongue depressors, each
one to be destroyed Immediately after
it has been once used.
IAN medical inspectors appointed by
the board of health, and are to serve
without pay.
METHODESTS AT SALINA.