The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-05-13

REDCROSSDETALED
Reports Submitted to the Executive Committee;
Excellent Labors Performed By the City
And County Nurses


Richards building. Saturday after
noon-/
The report of Miss Closson, execu-
tive secretary of the chapter, shows
that her work is carried on along
three distinct lines, namely: Home
service, social service and the duties
as secretary of the executive COM
mittee.
In the home service department,
which deals with the eX- service men
OF the county, ninety new cases have
been assisted during the han YER:
Many cases with which the Red
Cross had previously had contact,
were also under supervision. The Red
Cross wishes to be a friend TO all eX-
service men and give them .dvice
and assistance in every possible Way.
Fifty-siX men have been aided in
making out their applications Tor
compensation. vocational training,
securing additional evidence, and
other affidavits which have to be
produced
Many of these cases are referred
by the Red Cross social workers IN
the government hospitals. While at
the hospital the interests Of the pat
lent are cared for by these Red
Cross representatives. When the
patient returns to his home. the loca!
chapter is notified Of his condition
and Of the status of his case in re-
gard to compensation, training, etc.
Thru this very thorough organiza-
ton of the Red Cross, man once
under its notice. is always under its
supervision. until he either removes
without leaving an address end 1t is
impossible to locate him, or until it
is certain he will have no turtle!
need of assistance or advice. The
Il hnir hn o.
sentative of the Government to look
after The welfare of these men. it is
very easy to secure contact with the
various Government offices through
the Central Division of the Red Cross
with headquarters in Chicago; and
thus action IS secured more prompt
" than would Re possible if the man
were 10 try TO look after the matter
himself
One hundred and five dollars has
been loaned to men awaiting their
first payment eighty five dollars OF
same has been cheerfully repaid.
Lodging has been supplied to three
trsnsients. The local department as
sited with the federal vocational
February at the Red Cross rooms:
This was an attempt on the part of
the Government to reach every man
who claims to have any disability
contracted in or aggravated by ser
vice: Seventy-siX men were exam
ined.
There are many other things which
have been done in individual cases,
such as tracing the trunk of French
war bride. looking after the welfare
of disabled men without relatives or
looking after the welfare of the fam
ily while the man Of the house is in
hospital or taking training IN anoth--
er city.
In the social service department
gated. Relief has been granted to
only fifty of these families. An at
tempt is made to do constructive
work. That is, a thorough study IS
made of each individual family, and
an effort made to discover the real
cause of the need. Then, instead OF
simply supplying the need, steps are
that the family may bee ome indie
pendent as soon as possible. Twenty.
six families have been advised and
directed in regard to improving home
conditions.
by ladies of the Christian; Pres 5;,,
churches, and the Relief Society,
which organizations have made up
from material furnished by the Red
Cross, one hundred nineteen gar
mentS.
AS secretary of the executive com
mittee, the general work OF the
chapter is looked after, both in It's
relation to the branches and to the
central division.
In doing the work of the chapter,
three hundred seventy one letters
: have been written and six hundred
seventy seven visits made. Owing to
that fact that Miss Classen gives but
one half of her time to the work OF
the Red Cross, it is impossible to
do a great deal outside OF Mankato,
but cases throughout the county, are
referred to the officers Of the eigh
teen branches located in various sec
tions of the county.
The report of Miss Johnson, coun-
ty nurse, was as follows: During the
past seven months, three thousand
have been given physical inspection.
In this inspection, cleanliness Of body
and clothing is observed, eyes tested
by, the Snellen Chart, throat exam
ined as to the condition of tonsils,
nostril obstruction due to adenoids
observed, teeth inspected, and gener-
al health and physical condition OBJ
served.
The schools in the jurisdiction OF
the county nurse, consists OF three
consolidated schools, nine graded
schools, and one hundred eighteen
rural schools. All Of these schools
have been visited once during the
past year.
A very small percentage of school
children ever visit dentist or brush
their teeth, and as a rule if they do
consult a dentist, it's usually be-
cause of some toothache. About "a
percent of school children have. de-
cayed teeth and three percent have
neglected, decayed permanent teeth,
and among these, are the six year
molar" which so many parents mis-
take for baby teeth, and give them
no attention. Much difficult persua-
sion is needed to encourage parents to
give attention to a childs temporary
teeth, they relying fully upon the
following set Of teeth, but often the
permanent teeth are misplaced,
crooked or decay more easily, due to
the condition Of the teeth and gums
during the earlier childhood.
1t would be surprising to know
that in our county, we have children
in the sixth and seventh grade that
neglect their teeth to such an extent
that filling would be of no avail, as a
mare shell. of the tooth remains Al