Evening star., 1913-12-03

not in either year represent even ap-
proximately the number that actually
existed.
During the first half of 1913. when
compared with the first half of 1912,
there was an increased prevalence of
measles, reported cases rising from 1.2OI
TO 1888, but cases of whooping cough
diminished from 1865 to 226. Diphtheria
Increased. 167 cases in 1912, as compared
with 2J6 in 1913: scarlet fever, 13O as
compared with 347. and smallpox, 2, as
compared with 125. The number of re-
ported cases of typhoid fever fell from
I51 in the first six months of 1912 to 143
in the corresponding period of 1913, ana
the corresponding figure for reported
cases of communicable forms of tuber-
culosis were 6S4 and 661.
Contagious Disease Service.
1t Is urged that more liberal support
be given the contagious disease service.
The present method of assigning much
of the important work of the service to
employees without professional educations
certainly does not lead TO the best re-
suits, and the amount appropriated for
the CONTAGIOUS disease service does not
permit any other arrangement to be
made. Such professional employees as are
in the contagious disease service are paid
upon a per 0iem OASIS, ana III view VI
the small amount that IL is possible
TO pay and the uncertainty as to the
number of days that one will be en-
ployed, the service does not offer a
very attractive field to men of ability
In the police department and in the
fire department a force is constantly
maintained. under pay, large enough
to cope with any emergency. 1t would
seem. therefore, that there is no rea-
son of principle or of policy why there
should not be provided for the con-
tagious disease service at least sub
stantial working organization. con-
stantly under pay, susceptible of being
expanded in case of emergency into
working force large enough to afford
efficient protection. To rely. must
now be done. upon the training of
men after the emergency has arisen
for trained men cannot be found at
such times who are available for the
works unwise in the extreme.
As a special problem with respect to the
suppression of communicable diseases we
have the matter of syphilis and gon-
orrhoea. The very least that is called
for at the present time is the enlargement
of the laboratory facilities of the health
department SO as to provide for the ex-
animation of specimens from patients who
are believed to be suffering from either
of the diseases named, but who are too
poor to pay the cost of the laboratory
examinations necessary to determine that
fact. The establishment of dispensaries
for the convenient treatment of patients
suffering from such diseases and of in
creased hospital facilities for such as
need accommodations of that kind are
matters worthy of immediate serious con-
sideration.
Medical Inspection OF Schools.
During the fiscal year 1913 medi-
cal inspectors of schools made 1853 Wis
Its to schools and IS to the homes of pu-
pills. All candidates for admission to the
normal schools were examined by these
inspectors to determine their physical fit
ness for teachers positions. The dental
inspectors examined the teeth of o,5I2
pupils The results of the work of both
groups of inspectors are set forth in the
report of the health officer under whom
they serve.
The medical inspection of schools in
this District is unsatisfactory and will
doubtless continue to be SO until the i'm
portance and magnitude of the work are
recognized and provision made for its
execution upon a proper basis. 1t must
be apparent that eleven medical inspec-
tors and two dental inspectors cannot
serve adequately 81. 900 pupils, in 1856
buildings. scattered over the entire Dis
trlct. The number of pupils whom they
can satisfactorily examine is limited and
II Is impossible for them to do more than
10 recommend appropriate treatment and,
IN proper cases. exclusion from school,
Unfortunately, failure to understand the
Importance of treatment and in some
cases unfamiliarity with the channels
through which such treatment can be
provided lead to neglect, and the in
spector's recommendations go for naught
The result is that the pupils future eff
cheney Is Jeopardized, and for the present
ne remains less apt pupil than he would
be were he gotten into normal condition.
He is handicap to his teacher and
drawback to the rest of his class
To remedy such conditions most cities
have provided school nurses They serve
as connecting link between the medical
inspector and the teacher on the one hand
and between the medical inspector and the
parent on the other, and the result is
more work on the part of the medical in
spectors, and work that is more produc-
tive Of results. inasmuch as. through the
activities OF the nurses, a large number
Of parents are induced to carry into ef-
feet the inspectors recommendations. In
view OF the fact. however, that medical
and dental inspectors of schols give but
a part of their time to the discharge of
their official duties, and of the wide area
both territorially and professionally over
which the official activities of each eX-
ends, the best service will not be obtained
l1til provision has been made for the
Erection and supervision of their work by
competent supervisor employed for that
-pecihc purpose. The need for employ
9ent of such supervisor will of course
ae greater should the inspection corps be
Increased by the employment of school
nurses. Inc commissioners nave lnclud-
d in their estimates for the coming year
TENS providing for both school nurses and
or a proper supervising officer which
hey hope will meet with favorable action
~ Congress.
Food Inspection Service.
approximately $500 markets. grocery
stores, lunchrooms. bakeries and other
like places have been kept under OBJ;
servation during the year. Total in
spections of such establishments num-
bered 31,S55. The "a dairtes distrib-
uting milk in the District were in
times per year. Dairy farms to the
number or l,1I5, with approximately
Is, ,0G0 cattle, scattered over the Dis
trict of Columbia, Maryland. Virginia
and other states. were inspected 4,445
times. an average of 3.7S times per
annum.
The largest of the local slaughter
houses are engaged in interstate COM
merce and are. therefore, supervised
by the Department of Agriculture
There remain 19 places where slaugh-
tering is done for strictly local trade,
which must be visited from time to
time by inspectors in the service OF
the health department.. These places
present a peculiarly difficult problem
of supervision. in view of the small
amount of business which they do ana
the irreguIarity with which it is done.
ed