South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-24
PUBLIC HEALTH
A Series of Articles by DR..
Charles S. Bosenbury, Sec
rotary South Bend Board
of Health.
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF
SCHOOL CHIIDF

With the opening Of the schools We
can predict an increasing number Of
contagious diseases viii be reported
to the health department Diphtheria,
scarlet fever, measles. humps and
whooping cough cases will multiply
unless this year is an exception. Last
spring We noted that OF the children
applying for permits TO return 10
school after exclusion on account OF
communicable disease, the great ma
,jority came from three schools. one
building had so many cases OF
chickenpOX that in some Of the rooms
only seven or eight children were in
attendance. From another school we
had many children with whooping
cough and from still another humps
1t is true there were other cases of
these diseases but they were scatter
ed. Apparently the spread of disease
was through the schools. There can
be no blame attached to the teachers.
They were vigilant and did all in their
power to protect the children. 1t can
not be proven that health supervision
on the part of an expert would have
totally abolished contagious diseases
from these schools, but it is reason
able to assume that proper inspection
would have reduced the number of
cases very materially.
The school medical Inspector per-
forms an important duty when he
renders the schools safe from con-
tagiOus disease.
South Bend has not shown the
same progressive spirit with reference
TO guarding the school children as it
has in other directions Two years
~. 4 -r,1
schools during an epidemic Of small
pox and last year one school, where
diphtheria threatened, was Inspected.
Aside from this no serious attempt
has been made to supervise the health
of the boys and girls in the schools.
The modern conception Of>medical
inspection of school children cOntem-
plates more than inspection for con-
tagious disease. important as this is
II includes inspection of non-com-
municable conditions which lower re-
sistance and hinder progress on the
part of the pupils. Defects of hear
ing or sight, defOrmities, diseased
adenoids and tonsils; in short any alb
normal condition should be noted and
advice as to its correction be given
the parents. The school inspector is
not employed to treat the children,
his function is that of an advisor.
From reports Of cities where school
inspection has been introduced we
learn Of it's value. 1t is too valuable
means Of disease prevention to be
longer ignored in South Bend. The
expense is not prohibitive. The only
thing which is lacking is a public de-
mand that the school board institute
health supervision. Our people have
not wakened to the fact that our
school children are not being given
all that should be included i'm their
educational program. When the pub
lie realize the necessity and desirable
ity Of guarding their children then
South Bend will go forward as a
healthier town.
Finally should school inspection be
instituted. in and of itself il would
not decrease disease or increase eff
cheney of the school children. 1t has
been said. the function of school in
spection is chiefly advisory. School
inspection will fail or be useless I'M
less parents. teachers and pupils act
upon the advice of the inspector. Med
ical inspection is the means TO an
end, healthy, vigorous. capable school
children, but TO attain that, something
more than the mere inspection is
necessary.