The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-25
IN BABY BOOTHS
Nursing Tents at Fair Were Big
Attractions.
Mothers Checked Babies Like
They Would Baggage.
NURSES CARED FOR 214
Public Health Nursing Associa-
ton Receives Much Praise.
Big Things Planned for Tope-
ka'S Future Infants.

Two hundred and fourteen babies
were Checked at the checking stand
of the Public Health Nursing associa-
ton at the fair grounds during the
week of the fair. The three large tents,
one covering a baby exhibit, another
for the care of babies under l year
old, and a third for children more than
l year old, were objects of interest
at the fair Not only was it a conve-
nience to tired mothers and weary
babies, but, like most of the things
value.
Tho one tent devoted to baby ex-
hibits did not exhibit any babies. In
stead of squawking and souirming, or
laughing and glggling infants, the
things that infants need was displayed
and the best methods of rearing babies
were explained by experts on the sub
ject.
'tAt the fair next year the Public
Health Nursing associat ton will be
there with a larger force of nurses and
more conveniences for the caring of
babies than ever before" said Miss
Edith Lacey, supervising nurse.
Many Tots Cared For.
fair 101 were less than 1 year old and
113 were older. All the babies ap-
peared TO be healthy, and it was a
source of much satisfaction to the
nurses TIC have several little tots left
with them who several months before
had received the attention of the asso-
citation at a time when attention was
needed. Under the direction of the
public health nurses they had grown
from siclxly babies to robust young
sters. These babies and their mothers
were excellent boosters for Better
Babies methods advocated by the
Public Health Nursing association.
The happy mothers who had profited
by the teachings of the nurses were
ready to tell other mothers of their
experiences. The baby tent at the
was the common meeting
place of mothers, and here conf
dences were exchanged and knowledge
on the subject of better babies was
spread.
OF course, many questions were
asked as each baby was brought to
the association TO be left for a few
hours while the mothers visited the
question which no mother failed to
ask, in considering whether or not
she should risk leaving her baby
among strangers Every mother
wanted to know whether there was
danger of her child contracting some
disease from the other babies there.
Each was assured that the purpose
of the association was to prevent dis
only healthy babies were accepted.
All ba bies were cared fer the first two
hours free of charge. For longer
time than two hours a charge OF 10
est number of babies cared for at one
time was forty-five.
But while the Public Health Nurs-
ing associations interest in babies was
noticeable during the week OF the
fair, the work is being conducted
every day in the year. Baby clinics
are now being held one deay each
week in three of the school buildings
of the city, and other clinics are to
On Monday afternoons between the
hours of o'clock and O'Clock a
clinic is held at the Bran.-er school
On Thursdays at the same hours
there is clinic at the Parkdale
school, and on Fridays at the Quincy
school, There are no formal talks At
these clinics. Mothers are encouraged
to ask questions and 1t is the business
of the nurse to answer them Some
bring their babies to the clinics and
some do not. In time it is hoped
clinics can be held in all the school
buildings, but such is not possible now
owing to the limited number of
Miss Clara Mckee, a graduate
nurse, has been added to the corps
Of nurses and will begin her duties
October 1. With the growth of the
work of the association, it is planned
to increase the force from time to
lime. Already arrangements have
been made with the county whereby
the association will care for all tuber-
culosis patients and this alone will
call for the services of more nurses.
In addition to this there will be n
further demand for nurses, for ar
have been made with H.
g. Wilson city superintendent of
schools, whereby each nurse will
spend an hour each morning inspect
ng school children
In this way all the schools of the
,ity will be visited at least once each
week and the nurses will come in
close touch with the children Physi- |
al defects will be detected and those |
leeding the attention of physicians or