The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-22
Health Department Renders
Help to Parents in Caring
for Children.

A YOUNG woman, plainly and neat
" " dressed and carrying a very
n ordinary little black grip,
boarded street car in one Of
the city's suburbs. There was really
nothing in her appearance or actions
to attract general attention, neverth-
less she was the subject of comment
by some OF the passengers.
Two women bedecked in dame fash
ION IS latest creations sat on the op-
posite side of the car and gave the
newcomer IL thorough inspection. At
first their faces reflected only curl.
osity, but the lifting of chins and
noses soon indicated another feeling.
"Some canyasser, whispered one,
"Surc,' nodded number two know
ingly ''But it seems TO me that even
canvassers can make themselves pre-
sentable.'
Three little tots on the rear seat
fellow on the end nudged his nearest
companion with the questions, 'tSee
that badge? Wonder what that is'"
Salt Lake Foremost.
After careful scrutiny the recipi-
ent of the nudge assumed a wise air
and replied, "Sbe's one o them women
cops, | betchu."
AT this the third little one chirruped,
"Ah gwan! You kids make ME tired!
That IS one o. them school nurses
District nurses are not innovations
in Salt Lake alone; in fact it is one
of the few cities IN the country where
they are known at all. And they have
come to stay If the advice OF city
nealth commissioner, DIR. Samuel c.
Paul, is taken.
Salt Lake was one of the first
cities in the United States TO employ
district nurses, The. results have been
so satisfactory IN this method Of look
ing after the health of the school child.
rem and the general health of the com.
munity that it is now receiving serious
consideration i'll many Of the larger
cities of the nation. Only recently
Newark. n. j., adopted the plan and
substituted eight district nurses for
eight physicians in the employ of the
city.
Many UNIFORMED.
To the school children of the city,
and many OF the parents, the duties
OF the district nurses are familiar, but
there are Others. like those on the
street car who are yet ignorant in
tnat respect. Salt Lake now employs
five nurses. Four OF them are assigned
10 diffcTent parts OF the city and the
fifth remains in the office of the city
health commissioned.
The outside workers visit all the
schools In their respective districts AT
regular intervals and inspect all Of
the children Tor symptoms of disease
In cases OF defective cyesight. defectiy
hearing, throat trouble and other
chronic ailments. the parents are mott
fed and remedies suggested. If af
f!ictIons due to insanitary conditions
are discovered the homes of the chill.
drcu are visited and advice given as 10
thc best way to overcome the trouble
In such eases. as in the case of sus.
pccted contagious diseases, the cbil.
dren are not permitted TO return IN
school until the trouble has been re-.
moved. The nurses can not always diau-
nose case accurately, but each time
that contagious disease is suspectod
the child is sent home and the board nc
health immediately notified. Upon rc.
ceipt of such notice one of tho nbvsi. |
clans employed bv the citv immediate.
ly looks into the matter and issues o- !
denies the permit To return TO scbooI
lt the suspicious of the nurses are con. |
firmcd, the home is quarantincd
But these messengers of health do |
not rest during the school vacaf;ono
They 20 over their assigned districtc
regularly during the hot weather -
give special attention to infants, Tba