Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-29

1 anu TetuTH lLSIh 10 tQe uUTdTy.
The objection was made that too many
| children were excluded from school for
| trachoma and dirty heads, and that in this
way the medical inspection had a tendency
| tical danger of contagion from these chill
dren. provided they are under proper treat
ment.
School Nurses.
| In order to lessen the number of chill
dren excluded in these classes, 1t was de-
cided that as long as the children could
show signs that they were under treat
| ment they might be allowed to attend
class. But the number that had to be
excluded was so great that they could not
De attended to by the dispensaries and in
private; while. on the other hand, they
could not get back into school until they
were under treatment.
There was only way out of this
quandary-to establish a nursery staff In
connection with the schools. The principal
work of the nurses-to put 1t bluntly-is to
wash dirty heads. so that the children can
go right back into class without danger
to their fellows.
Each nurse. like each inspector, is as
signed to group Of schools. which she
visits regularly. She is required to keep
| a record Of all cases treated by her at
her schools. She has to visit at their
homes all children excluded from school
when they do not return for reinspection
on the day appointed by the school in
spectors, and also to instruct parents in
the proper way of caring for their chill
dren's heads at home. and thus clear up
the sources of contagion.
During 1903 the school nurses in the boz
rough of Manhattan administered no few
er than 235, 1893 treatments. They paid
nearly 13,0O0 visits to tenement houses, and
over 11,OOO visits to schools. At the pres
ent time there are twenty of these school
PURSES in Manhattan.
Medical inspection Of schools Is not COM
plete without nursing system of this
q ann n1-r,on y1f nf he laah lie
to the following excellent results:
Excellent Results.
A great reduction in the number of chill
dren excluded.
The DEVIATION of any serious interference
with the education of the children.
The eradication. if possible. of the source
of infection of these school children by
a visit to their homes and a demonstra-
ton of the means necessary to keep the
family free from dangerous or unpleasant
conditions
Strict observance of all children excluded
by the medical inspector, to see that they
are under treatment, and that they return
to school and do not become truants.
A card index system las been started, by
means of which careful track is kept of the
children under treatment. This, combined
with the nursing al the schools, has brought
down the number of exclusions from p, 53S
in the quarter ending December 81 1908, to
mere serious cases, such those of diph-
iberia and scarlet fever, are now excluded.
These figures rullify any charge that the
medical inspection of schools encourages
truancy and illiteracy to a dangerous de-
gree.
A Serious Problem.
The prevalence of trachoma in the schools
is enc of the most serious problems that has
to be dealt with. In 1902 five oculists were
appointed to make an investigation on the
subject and they found that about II per
cent of the school children were afflicted
with trachoma il some degree.
The regular inspectors were then specially
instructed in tie diagnosis of trachoma.
They speedily excluded so many children for
this cause that all the dispensaries and
hospitals IN the city were SO congested with
traChoma cases that they could not attend
to other work Very soon the authorities
of these institutions would not treat these
cases, as a eIal rule. If they did treat
them, the surgeons In charge would not
take the trouble 20 stamp the cards showing
that the children were under treatment,
and exclusion oe the children would there
fore be continued by the inspector
Eut even this difficulty did not daunt the
department of health. Just as 1t had es-
tabliShed it's own nursing system, so 1t
started its own trachoma hospital, fitting
up the old portions of the Gouverneur Hos
pital for the purpose Ten doctors and sur
eeCns have been assigned to it, with num-
Der of nurses.
In 1903 no less than 145 766 treatments
were administered by the trachoma hospi-
tai. including 4,337 operations.
l believe that far the medical in
spection of schools per can accomplish
GOOD results, the work, conducted by the
department of health of New York city, is
obtaining this end; but there are many con-
celebrations over which our department has
no control; as, for instance:
Important Matters.
The proper care of the children's outer
clothing at schools.
The proper ventila ton of the classrooms.
The proper lighting Of the classrooms.
Ample accommodation for each school
child.
Sufficient playground facilities.
Establishment of baths in the public
schools.
Examination and correction of errors of
refraction. about 80 per cent of the chill
dren examined showed retroactive error in
one or both eyes)
Correction of deformity of locomotive ap-
paratus.
Exclusion of all nervous diseases from
class attendance.
The segregation of children with inferior
mentality.
In the matter of the seating of the child;
his position when seated: when standing.
Does he bend over too far; is he getting
round shouldered; how about his chest can
he breathe well in the posture; are his eyes
too close to his book does he hear well;
does he talk properly; and what of the
matter of dust; is the school room always
well cleaned or is it full of dust and laden
with disease germs; what weight of books
does he carry home? And many other
similar questions
Hope for the Future.
I certainly do feel hopeful, however, that
while all the good that we should wish for
may not be realized in the present genera
ton of school children-for the reason that
they, too. are powerless to change their
enyironment-the labor bestowed upon
them now will dissatisfy them with
their present condition and surround
ings. Then, when they grow up, they
will demand, and they must have-for no
power can gainsay public indignation and
Observation-Disclosures homes for the bring
ing up of their children, and the latent
pride that is in their breasts will become
active and exhibit itself in the better hy-
gienic care of their children.
In the result, as far as bodily cleanliness |
and disease are concerned, there will be no |
lower classes. Education will have made !
us all equal, and the purpose of medical |
inspection of schools established by the |
department of health in the city of New |
York will have been realized.
The Camera in the Woodc