The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-26
IN CHILD CLINICS
Johnny Is Introduced to MIX
and Toothbrush.
Public Health Nursing Assoe1a-
ton Holds Nutrition Glasses.
MEETINGS ALL OVER COUNTY
Children Are Weighed and
Given Physical Tests.
Mothers Receive Instruction on
Nutrition and Child Care.
MEETINGS ALL OVER COUNTY

II the children of Shawnee county
are not so tall or wide or heavy or
healthy as they should be, it is not
the fault of the Topeka Public Health
Nursing association. For the welfare
of children - Of assorted sizes from
babies to sixteen year olds-is the
object of the free mothers conferences
and nutrition classes being conducted
by the association in Topeka and all
parts of the county.
Ten-year-old Johnny was brought
TO one Of the conferences the other
day by his mother Johnny works
pretty hard in the summer and has
worked after school hours in the win
ters. since what he can earn is needed
for the family pocketbook. Johnny
is active bright and apparently
healthy, but the scales showed him
10 be fifteen pounds underweight.
Questions asked by Miss Mary Alex
ander, county health nurse. brought
out the fact that Johnny seldom has
milk to drink.
He's Going to Get Milk.
I'VE do not buy much milk" the
mother said. NO milk man delivers
out our way and we seem to get along
all right without It,"
Johnny would get along better with
milk. Miss Alexander advised, and the
IhpLnGTs VINO WOulQ not nave CUTIE ~
the conference if she had not had her
chiIdren's interest at heart. told the
nurse she would try and get milk
from the Smiths who live near US"
She was willing and anxious to do
what she could but did not realize
that milk was so important a part of
a growing child's diet.
Tooth Brush New One on Him.
Johnny's eyes, as we'll as his mouth.
opened widely when he joined the
tooth brush drill with a group of other
children brought to the conference by
their mothers. A tooth brush had
never been one of his possessions, or,
81 was plain to see, of several of the
other children. The brushes, supplied
for the drill with paper cups of water
were given to the children with in
structions for their careful use. 1t
was difficult to drill the children
smoothly in the art of tooth brushing
miliar with this health chore" as the
nurse called it, and wanted to hurry
snru the operation. thereby showing
their superior knowledge
Each child is first given a thoro
examination by physicians co-operat-
ing in this work The child's name.
age, address and a chart of his weight
measurements and general condition is
kept and checked each time the
mother brings or sends him to the
conference, which is every week, &C
cording to the request of doctor and
nurse. Mothers of children showing
: per cent or more underweight are
asked to attend nutrition classes and
bring the children so they may learn
health habits and correct food. Ar
ranEement is made for free distribu-
tion of milk to those unable to procure
il otherwise.
Schedule of Meetings.
be registered in this way and all
mothers are invited to bring their
children. Those in charge of the con-
fercnces are glad to examine, measure
and weigh all children - overweight,
normal or underweight. EXpectant
mothers are also welcome to come for
advice. The correct clothing and sup
plies for the new baby are displayed.
TIL schedule of these meetings and
classes for the summer in the county
follows:
Topeka. Wednesday afternoon every week
. - o'clock. city auditorium.
Topeka. Ripley Park, beginning Monday
morning. June p. 10 to l. o'clock. and
each Monday thereafter thru the summer
North Topeka. community house, Tuesday
mornings. 10 to j. o'clock.
Auburn first Thursday Of each month.
Rossville. second Thursday OF each month.
Silver Lake. third Thursday Of each month.
Berryton. fourth Thursday of each month.
The Ripley park conference has
been arranged particularly for the con-
Nenicnce of mothers and children of
East Topeka, Parkdale and Oakland.
Rcd Cross Funds for Work.
The conferences, conducted for the
past three weeks. are in charge of
Miss Mary Alexander, Miss Eta Paul
baby welfare nurse, and Miss Lottie
Harkins, tuberculosis nurse. The work
Is being done under the general SUI
pervision of Mrs. Charles c. Bailey
head OF the Topeka Public Health
Nursing association. Certain Red
Cross funds formerly disbursed by the
county chapter of the Red Cross have
been put into the hands of the Public
Health Nursing association for this
work Red Cross literature is used and
numerous methods taught by the Red
Cross are practiced by the local nurses.
Child health posters that won the
prizes in a recent state board of health
poster contest are displayed on the
walls of conference rooms, and Red
Cross banners. not frequently seen in
these after the war days. are attract
i've decorations Packages of free lit
. erature are distributed at each meet
A1g.