Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-01
PUBLIC HEALTH
 A PUBLIC ASSET
(continued from Page Fivel

realization of the great scourge of tu- berculosis and the possibility of some day stamping it out. But the agencies adopted were found to need follow up interpreter. It was necessary to find ssme one to demonstrate the mes- sage, and in this connection the visit ing nurse was called upon as she never had been called upon before.
 Then came the campaign for the health of school children and here the experience was the same, the need of follOw-up agent Only per cent. of the written orders sent home by physicians were carried out, but after the visiting nurse was enlisted 80 per cent. of the orders were carried out.
 Besides the health improvement in the children there was an economic gain for 'repeaters" were stopped and enough was saved in that way to pay for some of the nurses.
 Miss Crandan said that when the re- suits of this were seen, it was sug- gested that there was no use in waiting till the child was years old before adopting health measures, but we might better begin with the babies. This brought up the milk station and Here again was found the need of the actual demonstration of the doctors orders and the person to see that they are carried out.
 Social service aspects of visiting nursing were also indicated and the subject of industrial nursing was also touched on. Manufacturers are also finding that it is good business policy to furnish welfare helpers for their em- ployes in recreation, rest rooms, and hygenic surrour dings.
 Poverty Allied to Illness.
 The family is the social unit, we recognize now, and poverty is so close ly allied to illness that 75 per cent. of those receiving charty are compelled to it by illness. So we see that health is a public asset and illness a public liability and public health nursing is an evolution.
 Miss CrnndalI spoke of the require ments called for in visiting nurse, such as knowledge of food economies and nutrition, acquaintance with so- cial problems, and knowledge of laws and the persons and agencies that ad- minister them.
 She pointed out that in Norwich as a community where there is tuberculosis sanatorium, this might be a point of beginning here, for the visiting nurse, but it would be far from stopping there. industrial health. She discussed the aid that the cofnmittee in charge should be to the visiting nurse.
 Should Be Some Charge.
 She advised also strongly against putting the work on a free basis for to give the people for nothing what they can even pay a penny for is pauperizing process. She said that 1t had been demonstrated that the exact cost per visit is 50. cents and in many places it has been placed on this cost basis. A fee system should be es- tablished anyway.
 She advised. too. that there should be no suggestion of politics or re- ligion in the services of the nurse. There should be an office with the regular office hours. There should be a supply committee. a publicity com- mittee, pulpit notices, and public bull letins.
 She congratulated the United Work CTS that they were now ready to ex- tend their district nursing into public health nursing.
 Experienced Nurss Speaks.
 Miss Mary Hills. superintendent of