New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-30
SCHOOL FOR M|DW|VES
Infants Milk Stations To Be
Made EduCati nal Centres.
MORE CARE FOR THE TEETH
Head of Department OF Hygiene
Says Private Philanthropy Is
No Longer Adequate.

The work Of the child hygiene division
of the Department of Health, when mas
now been In existence three years Is set
forth III a report just brought out by the
Department Of Health. The monograph Is
by Or. 5. Josephine Baker, director Oh
the division. The expansion OF the III
vision has been so rapid. DR.. Baker says
that the three years Of its existence nave
had TO Toe devoted largely to ORGANIZATION
THE purUose OF the division, II ~ al
ded. "is In the fullest possible develop
mont of It's opportunities for public ser
vice along already established lines, IN
the attainment OF the ideal conservation
Of child life and physical welfare.
or the future plans DR.. Baker points
out that IL IS intended 10 use the infants
milk stations as educational centres Tor
midwives. Out OF "A total OF lSl,5ii Drums
reported in 1911, 5l.756 were under the
care Of midwves.
Mere supervision Of these women, no
matter how efficiently maintained says
DR.. Baker will not meet the problem OF
the essential professional ability OF mo-
wives. II Is proposed to use the stations
for classes of midwives, attendance to ne
compulsory"
MIX stations are still needed in certain
congested districts of the city, DT
Baker asserts. and ADDS:
As infant mortality is essentially pub,
lie health problem the administration ana
cont oi OF an adequate numJer OF these
stations To meet the city needs shoulh
no longer be a matter for private philan.
thropy. and such districts az AZ now
cared for by stations maintained uhuei
private contiOl snou,u haze stations under
municipal management so that the burutn
need no longer be- borne by the puoIc
spirited men and women VINO nav 80
splendidy demonstrated the spirit vi true
civic service.
The proper supervision and care Of
founding babies, DR. Baker contends. Is
an evident factor I'm the reduction OF in
FAINT mortality Until such times as the IN
stitutiors provide system OF competent
medical instruction and supervision OF the
Infants boarded I'm private homes the los
ter mothers should be- required to register
these infants at the nearest Infants milk
stations. where they may be kept under
supervision until they are returned 10 the
institution. .t
Thc present system OF school inspection
should be extended To include all 81 the
free schools OF the city, says lDr. BAKER,
who adds that this need In urgent, with
particular reference TO the control OF con-
tarious diseases There should be An IN
crease IN the number Of school nurses or
else they should hc relieved OF part Oh
their present duties
There Is no more valuable public officer
than the school nurse ON her rests thr
responsibility for ne future physical well
fare OF the greater part Of our next gen =
Grafton The further development u
proper facilities IOr the treatment OF
school children should com" by the esthb-
lishmeHt Of clinics within schools. Ihc
lack % room In the schools has been IN"
main deterrent 10 the realization of TINS
plan.
Tine medical inspection IS now carried
on IN Jl1 public schools. having regis
tration 81 5A. .0i pupils In addition l3l
other free schools Of tn. city receive a
more or less complete series ~ insPec-
tons for IN" purpose Of detecting con,
tarious diseases There al" - medical
inspectors md I1p nurses detailed 10 the
work
The number Of physical examinations of
pupils made In 1911 was .5r,.ia. OF that
number H. per cent were ia need OF treat
ment. some Of the defects found IN
cluded. Defective vision. si.5ii. defective
hearing 1877: defective nasal breathing.
z75l5. hypcrtrophicd tonsils, A,b3' car
diac disease. lGsl. orthopedlc defect l.ls',
malnutrition. j,|j. and defective teeth
/ l3J.As
During 1911" says Dr Baker. ISL per
cent Of the total number Of children eH-
amlneI were found 10 have defective
teeth. This per cent has remained prac-
tically the same for the last three year..
The need Of free dental clinics Is acute,
and the Department OF Health has asked
the Board II Estimate FOR an aprropria-
ton sufficient 10 employ nft"en dentists
and eight nurses 10 allow the establish
mcnt Of school dental clinics under the
supervision OF the Division q! child Hy-
gicne."
Hypcrtrophled tonsils showed "A decrease
Of per cent in the last three years. II
now r. found In II per cent OF the cNami-
nations made.