Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-10
SAVING THE YOUNG
Plan for Children Afflicted With
tuberculosis.
Statement BY DR.. WARREN
Separate Schools Suggested by Dis
trict Health Officer.
SYSTEM ADOPTED IN ST. LOUIS
Method and Cost Explained and a
Similar Institution in Wash
ington Recommended.
SYSTEM ADOPTED IN ST. LOUIS

The suggestion Of Health Officer Will
liam c. Woodward that school children
Of the District who are afflicted with
tuberculosis be segregated in separate
buildings meets with the Endorsement Of
DR.. B. 8. Warren, former assistant sur
geon Of the United States public health
service and medical director of the So
ciety for the Relief and Prevention Of
tuberculosis of st. Louis, Mo-, in which
city similar plan has been adopted.
According to DR.. Woodward, there prob
ably are 1JO children Of school age in the
District who should receive their physi-
cal and mental education In buildings
especially equipped for tubercular pa
tients. On the basis of the cost involved
in constructing the experimental school
in st. Louis. which is capable of accom-
mOdating twenty-five pupils, 1t is esti-
mated by DIR. Warren that to care for
Washington's school children who have
tuberculosis would cost 10000 for build
ings and equipment and about 10000 for
running expenses.
Officials of the local board of education
are interested in the suggestion that an
experimental school De established in
II,
department has concluded an investiga-
ton to determine the number Of tuber-
cular children to be provided for the Dis
trict authorities will give consideration to
the matter.
Scope of st. Louis School.
DR.. Warren has prepared for The Star
an article, which is accompanied by
photographs. dealing with the st. Louis
school, it's organization and method of
operating. It is proposed that the Dis
trict's school be modelled after the st.
Louis institution. The article. in part.
follows:
In St. Louis the finding of proper site
was no small task. We first tried to find
q roof Of some public school building that
would serve our needs. but failed. various
sites were selected. but for one cause or
another had to be abandoned; finally
hill in the suburbs was found. This was
the property Of the school board. and was
obtained free of rent. 1t is nothing more
than a substantially built shed.
1.-The structure is S4x24 feet floor space,
one end 24x24 feet is inclosed for kitchen,
storeroom. dining room and bathroom;
the dining room is inclosed by glass that
can be removed in summer. The Enclosed
part is heated in cold weather by steam.
''The roof is Of tar paper and gravel,
and under that is ceiling, with two-inch
or three-inch air space between.
1.-THE space not inclosed Is protected
by screen wire and canvas drop curtains.
The curtains are lowered only on the
sides necessary to protect from cold
winds in winter, or to keep out rain or
snow. The open space Is Tor the SchOol-
room and restroom.
1T can accommodate twenty-five chill
dren. The desks. etc, occupy one end,
the folding cots the other. When not in
use the cots are folded and the space
used for a playroom in bad weather.
THE dining room is inclosed by glass
that can be removed in summer, then
forming only a part Of the school and
restroom space. In winter 1t can be
heated to 20.
Dressing Rooms and Baths.
Separate dressing and bathrooms are
provided for the boys and girls, with
separate lockers for all. The bathrooms
can be heated to 20 or Is and are pro-
vided with hot and cold water shower
bath over a cement floor. The heating
plant is in a cellar under the kitchen In
fact, the whole building is SO simple In
construction that the high school boys
from the technical training department
could build it.
While the building was being con-
structed the children were lOcated-all OF
school age. seven to fourteen years.
1 TIC 'SSuOoA UOdIu TIC tSoSAi
err desks, books. tables, etc. The So
ciety furnished a trained nurse. cook.
Waterman, cots and all the other furni-
ture, subsistence, clothing. ETC. The Wis
iting doctors are two members Of the
! medical staff who give their service free
of charge. Everything Is free to the
child Car fare is furnished to those who
are not able to pay for 1t.
The children arrive at $50 am. every
day except Sunday. The trained nurse
| supervises the shower bath. which Is the
first thing on the program. The bath Is
first tempered to suit each child, but by
training all We're soon induced to take the
cold bath. After the bath the society 8
, clothing is provided for each child.
Eskimo Suits in Winter.
In cold weather Eskimo suits are fur
nished. SO that there is no complaint of
having to sit In the cold. This includes
shoes and stockings and heavy felt boots
with rubber bottoms. Next they are
given a light lunch OF certified milk; a
sandwich Of some kind and an egg. They
| are then turned over to the teacher and
given lessons to do. according to grade
and physical condition.
One little boy who was two grades
| behind in his school and was marked
| backward. was able to make a full half
grade in eight weeks and the teacher
said at that rate he would easily make
up the two grades in the year. Recess
is given once in a forenoon. At midday
the children are given a big hot dinner
walk is required, according to the cOndi