The Washington times., 1914-03-25
inadequate Medical Inspection
in Many Buildings, Declare
Teachers.
PARENTS JOIN EDUCATORS
IN ASKING PROTECTION
Dangers Of Contagion Pointed
Out by Physicians-Some
Practical Results.

Nearly a score of Washington
schools are without any regular
medical inspection.
This added complaint developed
following the complaints of made
quate inspection in the schools
within the more thickiy populated
districts pisited twice a week.
At these schools in outlying sec
tions Health Department phys
icians call only on request from the
teachers. Additional arguments
for pisiting nurses are embodied in
these new facts, set forth by teach
ers and parents.
By ]. R. HILDEBRANp.
Suburban and outlying schools Of
the District today added their voice
to the city-~ide plea for better
medical inspection OF Washington's
schools, and especially for the pro-
vision Of visiting nurses.
In these outlying schools no reeu-
lar medical inspection now Is pro-
vided, according to the Health De-
partment's sdmission, AMI inspectors
only are sent to these schools when
they are asked for by teachers who
nay suspect the presence OF con-
. tagious diseases.
mo regular visits are made by
medical inspectors to our school,
said Miss Ella Given, principal OF
the Chevy Chase School. ''Fortu-
natsly we have ESCAPED any cpl
demic during the present winter.
There have been cases Of German
measles here. but they have existed
In the downtown schools as we'll
IF We suspect pupil has a con-
tagious disease. or IL one comes back
who requires examination by a phy-
sician We now call for one"
A similar condition prevails at
of the city. it was learned today
upon inquiry at the health depart
ment
Among the schools for which no
regular inspection is provided are
ming. the Stanton at Hamilton road,
the Reservoir at Conduit road. the
Takoma. the Tenley, the Woodourn,
the Brightwood Park, the Chain
Bridge. the Garfield. the Conduit
road, the Congress Heights, the Ben
road. the Ivy City, and the Kenil-
worth.
Provisions for Nurses.
Teachers by the score have in
dorsed the visiting nurse idea. Pro-
vision is made for five Of these
nurses in the District appropriation
bill.
While these are not as many as
We would like to have" said Super
fntendent Tlurston, they will form
the nucleus for a start. The idea is
not a mere theory. II has been
tried elsewhere. and even has been
experimental with here in the di-
vision under Miss Flora Hendley.''
The trial in Miss Hsndley's di-
vision was made possible by the
Visiting Nurse Association in detail
ing one Of her nurses TO her divis-
ion. the sixth, and the report OF her
work made by Miss HendIey upon
its completion has been cited fre-
nuently as proof that such Eurses
are needed.
From December to June this nurse
inspected 204 pupils in schools ard
I0e in their homes. Total visits TO
pupils were 1850.
AZ examples Of the work done the
report shows that the cases seen at
school included the following: pedi-
C'Ilosis. IS: eyes. 81: nose, 10; throat,
80, and miscellaneous. 81.
OF the cases seen AT homes liz
were referred TO family physicians,
81 we're sent to dispensaries. 1854 were
taken to dispensaries, and la re-
visits were made to patients.
The ailments found included SS
Gases of defective vis.ons, IS of de-
fective hearing. - of adcnoids, q
Of enlarged tonsils and l49 miscel-
laneous diseases.
Much Of the value of medical
Inspection now is lost because of the