The Washington times., 1915-07-31
SCHOOL NURSING
SYSTEM LAUDED
indianapolis Official Asserts
That Children Have Been
Benefited Greatly.
INDIANAPOLIS, July a.-Hundreds

INDIANAPOLIS, July 31.-Hundreds
Of school children whose parents are too
poor to provide them with proper p,edi-
cal attention have been brought back to
health through the school nursing sys-
tenn started bv the city board of health
December I. 1914. according to a report
covering the activities Of the work filed
with DR.. Herman G. Morgan. secretary
of the board.
In commenting on the report DR. Nor
Ean declared that tho work Of the school
nurses under the direction of Miss Car
RE Paddock. who assumed her duties
about the frst Of the year. has shown
excellent results. Attendance at some Of
the schools in the poorer residence dis
tr.ct has been improved. he said as
direct result Of the work Of the school
nurses.
Many Cases Are Treated.
The city now has nine women employ
ed as school nurses, most OF these being
student nurses at the City Hospital.
Since the department was started 4.lO4
calls have been made to the homes of
school children to see II they, are liv-
Ing under the proper conditions and to
ascertain II the directions Of physicians
are being fulfilled Treatments for va
rious physical defects in children have
been given in 5Ss cases. and G9l children
have been sent to tho city dispensary
for treatment.
Defec,s of the eyes in many cases
have been found to interfere with the
proper physical apd mental development
of school children. Glasses were provid-
ed for los children whose parents could
not ffnrd n fheno nj ruad ls
and adenoids, which. according to DR..
Morgan. sometimes result in undermine
INK the health and normal development
, OF children. have been removed as a re-
suit of Investigations made by the
| school nurses. The number of opera
tons for the removal of tonsils and
adenoids was given as eleven In the re-
port. Since March. when a system OF
dental inspection was started and a
place was provided for a dental clinic
100 children have had their teeth treated
, oy competent dentists.
Would Employ Nurses.
| In making her report Miss Paddock
/ recommended that more graduate
nurses be employed as school nurses
The student nurses at the City Hos.
! pital are required to spend much OF
| their tir1e attending lectures and, a.
q result. can not devote enough time
! to the work
! The boards expenditures for schoo
nursing have been justified" DR.
| Morgan said. 'In some cases the at
! tendance at schools has been in.
! creased from 10 to Is per cent be
cause.-the health OF the children un.
der proper advice and care has beer
70 improved as to eliminate much i'll.
ness.
| The report shows that glasses
were provided for lO5 children sine.
! The hrst OF the year There are fewel
school children with defective eyei
than one might imagine. Their pa
| rents seem to provide their children
| with glasses when they arc needed.
| consider tho establishing of a schoo
nursing department as great ad.
vance step. Tn" report OF the head
| nurse for the first few months OF the
year shows without doubt that much
good has been accomplished. The
work will tend to make Young
America in Indianapolis a sturdiel
! and healthier addition to our race.