The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-14
Nurses of Great Value

Nurses of Great Value
 "The two school nurses have been inestimable value. Their visits to u home mean great good to the chi and frequently better home co-oper; ton.
 'In. certain unusual cases where Il pupil needed prompt or urgent trea ment. the nurses took the card of not fcation to the parent to explain Il urgency of the case to insist that Il child's needs receive consideration. "In other instances it was appare that the surroundings, food, clothir or mode of life were unhealthy al the visits of the nurse to such hom were always well received and pr ductive of good. In exceptional cases illness in a pupil where such visi seemed advisable, she called at inte vals to give the mother some lit assistance and instruction regardir the bathing and nursing of the p' tient
 "The greater part of the nurse work, however, consisted in her visi to the homes of those defective chi dren whose parents, through indiffe ence, or for other reasons. failed consult a physician or institute Urea ment I cannot speak too highly the interest shown by both of u nurses in this great work and of the energy, tact and untiring patience.
 "The party was advised in every il stance of physical defect in puI to consult the family physician or SD cialist, but was also notified that he felt that he could not afford to ps a physician, free treatment could had during certain hours at the di pensary of the Hillman hospital. vi records would indicate that about per cent of the children receivir treatment as the result of our advi applied to the dispensary. Each nur was assigned duty at the hospital du ing the dispensary hours and her f miliar presence among strange su roundings was often a source of cor fort as well as usefulness to the your patient.
 Work at Hospital
 "'The superintendent and board of co trol of the Hillman hospital have shoy every desire eo cooperate in furnishil suitable equipment and service. and | physician in chief of the dyspensary whom the children apply for treatme has shown great interest and skill in | work
 You will note from the appended Il | OF defects according to school that 1s | instances of physical defect or disea were noted. As 293 instances of two q | fects in the same child were recorde records were made of 15l7 cases. The | children, who, in the second year of m | ical inspection were advised to consult physician represent about 6ls per cent | the total enrolment.
 "Js is not possible today to form | xf tt,n Attpo nF e1, dren who have sought treatment for | correction of defects noted by us, becau | a great many of the cases did not nnaid immediate aid and the parent ofs
 preferred to wait until surnnier to ins | tute treatment. The records of those T
 pills are still open, however. and eal | next session an attempt will be ma | to determine exactly how many receiy
 aiG
 "The health of the community 1 large is, of course, reflected in the scho | During the months of October and \ | vember great many absences becat | of malaria were reported. Most of thu
 cases, however, were limited to certs districts. and the attention of the c health officer was called to the com tion. Both measles and scarlet fe.
 were epidemic at times and were l,
 cause of great many absences.
 Study of Backward Children
 AS directed by you, a study or | backward children in the schools "
 begun during the month of March.
 teacher especially fitted for this purpt was detailed and was assisted by | two school nurses Their method of we
 was to obtain from the principal of ca
 school the name of every child who behind his grade in years and then ask the teacher for comvents as to ,
 ability, character and disposition of su pupils. With this record before her 1 | special teacher then, in room set as
 for this purpose, talked alone with
 child, applied certain tests and endes ored to form correct estimate of
 mental calibre. Based on this examil tion, the child was assigned cert'
 place in the classification adopted by v Receiving the completed record of su
 child from the special teacher 1 p,edical director then examined nm P. sically in an effort to detect some der ! ,rhirh could be accepted QG the cause