Norwich bulletin., 1915-10-02
MEDICAL INSPECTION IN SCHOOLS
Superintendent Graham Explain. How Would be Carried outRequres at Least One Physical Examination Each Year for Every Child Established Systems Show Epi
 denies Prevented and Healthier Happier Children as a Result

Upon the subject of medical inspec- ton in the schools which this year Is introduced here for the first time, Su- perfntendent Edward J. Graham writes The Bulletin as foliows:.
 Many interested inquiries have been received by me concerning the intro ductiun of medical inspection into our schools. the nature of the work. and how it would be carried out. I take this means of replying to these and many others who are interested in the weifare and progress, of, f,s. our :. public school children, s .s Complies With New Law.
 In order torconform to the new law passed during the lSsst session of the general assembly the town school com mittee must establish some form of medical inspection. Nearly all of the cities in the state had some system of medical inspection before this law must conform to the law. : The daw requires that each child must have during the year at least, one physical examination made by a qualified physician. To assist the physicians in this work tahnlate rec ords and follow. up cases, a. school nurse is indispensable. The nurse is the link between medical inspection or examination and the cure for defects found by such examination.
 The health department of Boston re- ports that less than 25s per cent. of parents act on the written notice sent to the home It requires home visits by the nurse to accomplish the re- suits expected. The great majority of parents want to do the right thing for the child. Many do not know what to do. So the great work of the nursing corps has been the educating and per suadinga of parents to secure proper e7<F school children and carrying into the homes lessons of hygiene.
 Benefits 10 Be Derived.
 The benefits derived from we'll di- rected medical inspection work art many. Physical defects, such as ade- holds, enlarged tonsils, defective VI sion, defective hearing, etc. are dis covered and ramedied. All the above ailments are considered as seriou: menaces to the childls welfare and pro. gross in school work.
 Medical inspection calls attention t. many other conditions which surround the child; to the ventilation. lighting and heating of the building; to- tn, need of properly adjusted desks and tS home conditions. Uncleanliness Is on' of the greatest evils. Today there il no excuse for the many cases O pediculosic, and impetigo reported. Ig norance of the laws of. health in tn home is responsible for most of tl1es' cases. In this line. of work the nurs is especially valuable by teaching tn children and the parents through tn children how to care for their bodies Spencer says, "The most importan subject in education is a thorougl knowledge of the laws of health am how to prevent disease"
 Epidenics Prevented.
 In making a study of the work ii established systems, find that, ', number 1of 5spidemics havesbeanepre vented in n.aT school where some schildrei had become i'll with a contagious dls l ease The nurse examined ali chil dren as they entered the school room and any child showing, signs of tn disease was excluded before he hal arrived at the contagious stage. Il this way; often times, the closing O schools with. it's educational loss to tn children and the financial loss to tn
 town could be avoided S
 Aid Towards Healthier Children. | However, the greatest advantage c medical inspection is not so much i | preventing contagicn as 1t is discov so that such children may have a | opportunity to make the progress i | the work which their normal abilitie | would permit Retarded progres should be investigated. OfteD the al of a skilled physician is needed to dis cover the reason for an abnormal ma ture. Whatever is done to mak healthier, happier children is for tn highest good of the community an isrthe real foundation of education.
 An effort is being made by our stat