Arizona republican., 1921-04-24
MADE OF ALL WORK
ETElkA WEISS, R. N. Public Health Nurse


 Some one asked me a little while ago to define my work. What do you mean: Public Health Nurse?" He asked in the present day classic manner
 I was equal to the occasion: "A maid of all work am I. Sir. she said" l answered, making cgurtsey. My inquisitor laughed and decided l was joking, so I told him the following true story:
 Once upon a time there was a happy family: father, mother and four children-three girls and a boy. The mother was a, nice creature, she worked hard all the day, kept her house clean, the clothes mended the family well fed. The man was the average man, no vices, hard working earning enough to keep his family from wanting necessities. He could even put by a little for a rainy day. This rainy day came suddenly and unexpectedly; the mother sickened, was finally diagnosed tubercular. The man packed his belongings, and moved with his family to PhoeNix. However, by that time she was a pretty far advanced case.
 Someone called the public health nurses attention to the family, she visited and gave advice; calling again rom t2me to time as seemed neceS- sary- The woman was a careful patient, she did not want to infect her children. she kept her own dishes separate and boiled them. she was careful about destroying her sputum. she covered her mouth when she coughed and never kissed her chill dren. However, as she was com pelled to do most of her work. though the husband assisted at noon and at nights, she did not get sufficient rest. One day when the nurse called she found that the family had moved. no one knew where. A couple of months later the newspapers announced the death of the woman-and the ad- dress. The nurse found the chill dren, the oldest only eleven, looking after themselves. The poor father did the best he could, but the place was in an awful shape. Papers and rags filtered all around; unwashed dishes, dust an inch thick. the dead mothers belongings piled on one porch. even the faded flowers were therei What a. problem to solvei Do you know what the nurse did ? She interested some of her friends. The next day the friend and this nurse went back to the house, the two of them swept, dusted, scrubbed and cleaned for hours. The soiled clothes, an immense bundle, were taken to another friends house where they were washed; someone else ironed them, the nurse mended them. This performance was repeated sev- eral times: in the meanwhile the children were examined by the doc tor; the man interviewed severa times, plans were made for the future, which included the family s return to its original home, as there were relatives who were interested. Then the man became i'll, the return trip had to be postponed; another organization was called in to assist The man recovered. and the family is back home now: but let me tell you it was not an easy sailing for the nurse. Of course, she felt that by taking matters in hand at once she might save the children, chances are they will grow up healthy and useful. The father learned much, he could easily see wherein he had erred 1T the care of his wife. He will not make the same mistake with his chil- dren. In case they or himself should show any symptoms. of breaking down he will call in a doctor at once and follow his advice.''
 My friend listened attentively.
 Good gracious," he said. "You people are surely made of all work, | But don't you get morbid doing sucf things?'
 Morbid, When we can save? Nc indeed. Oh yes, we do get cross some | times, but we are always sorry after wards, Really. And amusing episodes occur very often. Why, in New York I had an Italian family consisting o parents and several superfluou: children. The charities were sup porting them. One day I found l Solly, short for Salvatore, having z violent fight with a red-headed Irisl boy whose name was Francis Xaviel Nugept, but whom everyone called Spotts. I rushed between them.
 "'Solly. Spotts! What on earth ar' ] you killing each other for?' '.Solly gasped for breath. He cal my father thief! He say he stea | his goatl'
 'Spotts made a dash for Solly bu I held him.
 How about that Spotts? Die you say MT. Dimio was a thief?'
 "'S;ure and I didn't, nurse, I saiC he got my goat, and that he did wher he chased after me for swiping on' little apple.
 Did you say 'morbid?'