The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-08
VISITING NURSES'
 ASSO. REFLECTS
 MRS. A. L. RIKER
Annual Reports Show Mark ed Progress In Teaching Afflicted to Help Them selves.

The annual meeting of the Visiting Nurses association held at 10 o'clock this morning at the Stratfield was an interesting session, the reports of the meeting showing that the work of the associate for the past year has been productive of great good to the community, and that decided progress is being made in the education of the people in methods of sanitation and care for the sick. The annual cleo tion was held, resulting in the re- election of Mrs. A. L. Riker as pres ident of the association in recogni- ton of her excellent work
 During the year three nurses have been employed, the expense of one being paid by George C. Edwards. It was also reported that during the past year the Board of Health had appropriated $500 for a milk station. This year the same amount is to be used as the association may direct for it's purposes.
 Plans were taken up for the pKesen- tation of the play 'sCollege Hero un- der the auspices of the associa tion the same purpose in other places with considerable success. MT. Townroe, representing MT. Davis, explained the methods to be pursued. The first meeting for the arranging for the presentation will be held at the
 
 10.
 Following are the officers elected:
 President, Mrs. A. L. Riker; vice presidents, Mrs. H. M. Knapp; Mrs. J. c. Chamberlain; Mrs. Harvey Hub bell; recording secretary, Mrs. Arthur Brewer; corresponding secretary. Mrs. Fred Blanchard; treasurer, Mrs. Sam ueI wheeler.
 The report of the visiting nurse, Miss A. M. Cullen, is a very interesting doc- ument and reviews the work done dur ing the past year. She says it has been a rather uphill fight, but she says that the members of the aS5O citation may feel repaid in the knowl- edge that it has convinced many of the people that fresh air and sunshine and clean living are essential to well being. The general work has ancreas- ed in scope and usefulness and the names of a number of additional doc tors have been added who call for the servfcec of the nrres.
 Miss Cullen cites concrete cases where benefit has accrued from the services of the nurses, not so much in the actual time spent but in the instruction given to members of the family of how to care for those who are i'll. She says there are still many obstacles in the work for the pre- vention of tuberculosis. the lack of a law which would allow of the segre- gation of tubercu1ar patients being felt, some cases occurring where af- ter weeks of persuasion patient will agree to go to the sanitariun, and then in a short time return home, ex- posing all of the other members of the family to the infection.
 Miss Cullen says that instruction along the lines of hygiene will show its own results, and in conclusion ex- presses gratitude for the cooperation of both. the charities and health de- partments. and also to the various charitable organizations, both in tub erculosis and general work.
 A summary of the work shows that 2,416 visits were made upon 169 pa tients. The sum of $148.30 was re- ceived from 66 paying patients and that there were 1O6 non-paying pa tients. The number of doctors call ing for nurses was 70, and patients cured Or convalescent number 73. Of the 19 patients who died IS were af- flicted with tuberculosis and 6 with other diseases. At the beginning of the month of April there remained in the care of the nurses 27 patients. Practically all nationalities called for the services of the nurses.