Evening star., 1921-10-07
LACK OF CARE OF CIILDREN'S
HEALTH IN SCHOOLS DEPLORED
Ballou Tells Meeting Many Pupils Need
Treatment as Much as Hamilton In
mates-Plans Recommended.

schools. It. is unfortunate, he ad-
mitted. that the Hamilton School is
situated at one side of the city, but
he added that the children have not
suffered by reason of this and have
recovered at fast rate.
DR.. Murphy outlined the process Of
detecting tubercular children in the
schools, pointing out that while few
may be discovered by teachers most
OF them are reported by their private
physicians to the District health de-
partment and thereby made of record
IN the schools. 1t is not the intention
to give medical treatment in the
schools, he said. as family physicians
might protest this step. Where chill
dren are. unable financially to obtain
the services of private physician
they may be taken to the tubercular
clinic of the District health depart
ment and be treated free of charge, it
was announced. Medical inspectors
visit the Hamilton School twice week
ly and nurses also twice weekly, DR..
Murphy remarked.
Two ClassroOms Recommended.
DR.. Murphy read part of letter
from Health Officer w. C. Fowler to
the District Commissioners, in which
it was recommended that the new
tubercular school have two classrooms
holding thirty pupils each; heated
cloakrooms, an Industrial room, two
rest rooms with cots, a dining room,
kitchen. pantry, Office and medical ex-
animation room, two playrooms, lava
tories with showers. etc. The build
ing, it was added, should be one story.
with an uncovered porch on the same
level with the classrooms, SO that re-
clining chairs and cots may be wheel
ed out. Window space should be large.
with provision against drafts. and
steam pipes should, perhaps. be locat-
ed under the floor so as to heat the
boards.
Capt. Harris. with the aid of stere-
optican protector. exhibited a floor
plan tentatively drawn up and model
ed after Portland school. reputed to
be the best of it's kind in the country.
The plan provided for a U-shaped
south, the two bays containing class
rooms, one equipped with movable
cots and the other with movable
desks. Each would seat twenty-five
pupils.
In calling for general discussion
of the subject of new tubercular
school DR.. Simon said that while there
had been some delay in erecting a new
building, this delay had been delib-
crate and advantageous.
The board of education will not be
speeded into putting up a structure
which, through haste, may prove un-
satisfactory" he said.
SanatOrium Urged.
Emile Berliner. Of the National As
sociatien for the Prevention Of Tuber-
culosis. urged that a sanatorium be
established in connection with the new
school. The present Hamilton School
is but makeshift, he asserted. Early
action in providing the new facilities
was advocated.
Walter b. Patterson, director of
night schools, suggested that a laun-
dry room be incorporated in the build
ing. He said that the present system
of letting this work out to private
concerns was unsatisfactory.
Courtenay Dinwiddie of the Ma
tional Child Health Council urged
the board to adopt a broad policy in
caring for tubercular children, and
recommended that provision be made
for more inspectors.
DR.. George A. Kober of the George
town Medical School brought out that
prevention was greater than cure.
and suggested that the addition of
roof garden to the new school might
be advisable.
Walter S. Ufford of the Associated
Charities praised the school clinic
plan. Examination of medical authori-