Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-26
MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Examination Of Eye, Ear, Nose and
Throat Among School Children.

AT the request Of the city superinten-
Gent l schools, DR.. o. w. Turner re-
Gently appeared before the Augusta
teachers and explained to them the
simple but effective tests to be used in
determining whether a pupil is suffer-
Ing from any defect of eye, ear, nose or
throat. The method, he stated, is one
that has peen used in some of the Wes-
tern schools successfully for some Six
teen Or more years. 1t was originated
by DIR. Franl, Airport, of Chicago, for
the special use of teachers. The OBJ
,ect is not to find out, through a pro-
tracted examination, just what the
trouble Is; that is the work Of a physi-
can. The teacher simply aims to dis
cover whether the organs function
normally or abnormally. If abnormal
ly, the parent is notified.
In making All inspection of the eye
as to the question of vision, the Doctor
explained, the lowest line of letters on
the card should be read at a distance
of twenty feet by the eye that has per-
feet acutenesS of vision. In testing the
vision, tie card should be put in a
good light, and the pupil stationed at
a distance of twenty feet. When the
card is rot in use, it should be hung
lace toward the wall or taken from
the room altogether, that pupils may
net commit the characters to memory
This inspection of the eyes should be
made by covering one eye and testing
To see If the pupil reads the lowest line
OF letters at distance Of twenty feet.
Ii most of the letters are read with
eacn eye, 1T means, so far as vision is
concerned, that there is no defect 1t
does not necessarily mean that the eve
is perfect, because there might be con-
siderable deformity in the eye without
impairment OF vision. But if there is
absence of any easily discoverable con-
ditions. like redress of the eyes, or APP
parent squirting or cross eyes, and if
the pupil does rot complain of head
aches or hold the book very close to the
eyes III reading, if he is able to
read the lowest line OF test type and
does not complain of headache or have
red eyes nothing further is necessary
In the examination of the eyes, j.
the pupil wears glasses. he should be
examined with the glasses on, but j..
that pupil, even with glasses on, slii!
has these infiammatory conditions, red
eyes, or complains of headache, or T.
not able to follow the book the cas-
should be reported just the same. Again
there is a large lumber of pupils whose
visions in wearing glasses would not
be over 20-100, who have perfectly fit
ting glasses, and are in good condition,
but who should be regarded as abnor-
NAL nevertheless. Something is wrong,
although it may be something that can
not be rishtad.
The examination of the ear is con
Quoted by simply having the pupil ST,
twenty feet away from the teacher.
holding a hand over one ear, whereup-
on the teacher asks him to repeat num-
hers of words quite rapidly. 1t is easy
to see if there is any defect in hearing
The teacher should sit at one side, try
ing first one of the pupils ears ami
then the other ore, the pupil holding hi;
hand over the car that is not being
tested. Such a simple test is sufficient.
These tests should be made in a room
admitting only one pupil at a time.
When testing vision, have the pupil sit
and read the lowest line of type with
zone eye at time. If h.
reads it all right, that is enough
50 far as his vision is concern
ed. If the pupil has acuteness OF Wis
ion. has no redness of the eyes, no
headache. if his hearing is good, if he
has no trouble. such as discharge from
the ears or nose, breathing through tie
mouth. etc. there is nothing TO report.
In keeping a record of examinations
al that Will be necessary will be to
keep a record of those pupils who SHOW
some evidence of defect; that Is. cases
where hearing is normal. vision per
.cctly acute, and where there are no
evidences of disturbances, like head
aches. iniiamed eyes. or anything OF
that sort, need not be recorded.
If the pupil breathes continually
able discharge from the nose, that liz
dicates some defect with the breathing
apparatus. not what the trouble is, but
that there is trouble If there Is dis
charge from the ears or nose, the fact
should be recorded and the case re-
ported.
\ BY the method followed In this chart,
those pupils who show some indication
of defect along the lines indicated. are
given a card which notifies the parents
that this pupil has some defect, and re
rers them to the family physician.
Dr. Turner then answered a num-
her of question for the teachers, few
of which appear below: