The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-08-17
He~s2 s.--E.
| Trained Nurses
! In Schools |
s"z g

s ton Of population in these cen
ters of human activity have
compelled the municipal governments
n take over tie direction of many af-
fairs in respect TO which under other
conditions no public action might "a
taken. It is not many years, for eA-
annie. since there was no medical in
snecti0n. even in the largest cities. OF
children in tie public schools The
heaI.h departments of municipalities
have had more and more responsible
lies thrust upon them with the growth
of public sentiment as to safeguards
mat should be taken to protect the
plbEclcalth. These responsibilities are
all Development Of the idea that the
community in its corporate capacity
should exercise n guiding hand in such
matters 1t is the same idea that has
led not only to regular inspection of
the health of pupils in the public
schools. hut TO instruction of the pupils
themselves in many things relating to
their health ana to giving them prac-
tee under the eyes Of trained nurses
in such operations rs first aid to the
injured. The curriculum familiar TO
many Of the older generation did not
include ANY such course as this, but
progress in educational ideas has
brought many changes.
The main idea of regular inspection
Of the pupils in schools by representa-
tivcS Of the health departments is elm
nation Of preventahle diseases. From
the nature of the case the public school
is an excellent place for the spread Of
contagious disease unless the school is
uu.er some such regulation. Paris
wos the first important municipal
Try 10 order the regular inspection Of
schools ana school children by physi-
clans. That was in 1912. Boston was
tie first city in this country to institute
Il regular 5, stem Of inspection of this
kin1 It took such action in 1894. and
Chicago followed in 1898. New York
was little slow in establishing such a
system. but it now has the most com.
prehens.ve and highly developed one
of any city in the world Not only are
physicians employed in the inspection
service. bur regularly graduated pro
fessi0lal nurses are also SO employed
\ corps of nurses was appointed about
four years aga with supervising nurse
fl charge The medical inspectors
make systematic visits to the school,
n their respective districts and main
tain careful oversight of the pupils
in their jurisdiction and the health con.
dt.ons existing. especially as regards
contagious diseases. Each inspector
keeps q card index of each class room,
50 arranged that each child affected
with any contagious disease has it's
name ana disease entered upon the
card rs soon as the disease is discov-
cred. y code number is used to indi-
cate the ma.ady. Whcre the case calls
for it the ch.ll is sent home and eX.
Guided from school until it is safe for
it TO return Children needing treat.
ment for some minor ailments are re-
ferred 10 their family physician or to
some diSpensary and allowed TO remain
in school as long as they are under
treatment or until cured.
In many districts where there is
large foreign population the ignorance
or poverty Of parents is such that the
ailiAe children would not receive prop
er treatment without assistance. and
in these cases they are referred 10 the
nurse I'm, rspo-.a1, i,,-+r,r.+,,.., opI COW,