The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-02-15
TUBERCULOSIS
GERMS FOUND
AMONG PUPILS
One-fifth of Schol Children
in City Have Swollen
Neck Glands, Predicting
Infection.

"One-fifth of the school children OF
Richmond are afflicted with scrofula
or swollen neck glands, and that spells
In nearly every instance trbercular in.
fection," was the startling statement
made today by Dr. David w. Steven.
son, one Of the most prominent physic.
ians in eastern Indiana.
Neglect in caring for children who
have tuberculosis in its primary stages
Is the real cause for the steady in.
crease of this deadly disease"
DR.. Stevenson expressed the hope
that the present agitation in Richmond
and Wayne county to formulate some
plan of campaign against the menacing
scourge would not cease until some
definite action had been accomplish.
ed
Approves Plan.
DR.. Stevenson gave his approval to
the proposed plan for the scientific
treatment of tuberculosis cases in the
homes. He also advocated the estab
lishment of a tuberculosis colony on
the grounds of the Reid hospital, and
the appointment of at least one nurse
by the school city, to regularly visit
the homes of children in whom the
school physicians have detected symp
toms of the white plague.
1T has been suggested that the civil
city appoint a physician and trained
nurse who would devote. their entire
time to the work Of waiting upon tu.
bercular cases and spreading the COS
pei of prevention among members OF
all families in which there are tubercu
lar cases." said Dr. Stevenson
Il think it would be unnecessary to
appoint special physician to care
only for tuberculosis cases. If the bill
which DR.. Hurry is supporting is pass
ed, which provides the employment
of health officers at adequate salaries
their official duties, this official will
tubercular cases as is necessary.
Trained Nurse Necessary.
But trained nurse working under
the direction of the health officer is
an imperative need If tuberculosis is
to be fought scientifically. Tubercu
losis, you know, is a disease easily
cured if the patient is properly
treated and instructed in the first
stages. A good nurse can be depended
upon to do the bulk Of this work.
| teaching the doctrine Of clean living
fresh air and wholesome food to the
patients and those directly exposed to
them.
"My plan would call for the employ
ment of a nurse by the civil city, as
an assistant to the health officer, and
the employment of nurse by the
school city, working under the school,
medical examiners.
mt 0f
'"The duty of the school nurse would
be to visit the home of every child
whom the medical examiner suspects
of having tuberculosis, find out if the
child gets enough fresh air, if it re
ceives wholesome diet, if 1t is properly
clothed and if it gets sufficient rest
She can prescribe the proper treat
ment for such children.
81 will venture to say that If hun
dreds Of parents could be made to ap
preciate the value of plenty of fresh
air, good food and lots of sleep meant
to their children it would not be long
until the pale, sickly child with scrof
| ula would be an oddity in our schools
"The city nurse, working under the
direction of the health officer, woulG
confine her work to homes where there
were adult victims of the disease"