Connecticut western news., 1921-09-22
OVER THE TOP FOR THE
 NURSING ASSOCIATION
Annual Drive for Funds to be Held This Week
 Saturday

No public agency at work in our midst has more clearly demonstrated the vital character of it's service than the Visiting Nurse Association. You never know just how soon your own turn may come to have this state ment demonstrated to you in your own home. Read these two or three cases which are fair samples of work that is going on continually and then move out of the Missouri dele gation and take your place among the "Boosters" in North Canaan, Conn.
 Little Tony was prematurely born and weighed only four pounds at birth. At six weeks he was still frail little specimen indeed and, to make matters worse his mother be- came i'll and Tony had to be cared for by kind neighbor, involving radical change of food. Tony's slender hold on life seemed about to be broken when at this point the nurse appeared on the scene. The mother was in tears clasping the all but lifeless Tony in her arms and ex- claiming, "He's dying, he's dying"
 No time was to be lost. The doc tor was summoned in haste and at once the nurse set to work to em- ploy those emergency nursing meas ures which only training and skill can command. To save the little life seemed indeed vain hope but the next day Tony's condition was plain ly improved.
 Under the daily supervision of the nurse the mother learned how to give young Tony the intelligent and particular care which his case de- handed. Today he is almost a year old and now you know along with Tony's mother how it happened that Tony was not one of the 30O,000 bebies who die every year because of improper care and feeding. Tony's mother speaks no English but in her eyes the nurse read a depth of grati- tude which lips could not utter.
 Little Guido was six months old. One day the nurse found him with very loathsome looking ear. Inquiry revealed the fact that the doctor had been called but his prescription bad net been carried out, and a serious condition had already developed from neglect. The nurse at once took charge and made the doctors directions effective. After patient treatment and supervision the threatening condition subsided and serious impairment of the child's hearing was undoubtedly prevented. An aged woman with nerves un- strung and painwracked was in des- perate need of the same skilled nursing attention that a special nurse might give, but circumstances forbad the summoning of that special nurse. In her extremity she sum- noned the visiting nurse who was able to so arrange her schedule that the patient was given just that daily skilled nursing care which she so much needed with the result that slowly her physical and mental vigor returned.
 A child was absent from school through illness. In due season the nurse called to investigate and found a suspicious looking throat. The family had failed to recognize the seriousness of the condition and had not summoned physician. A culture was taken and from the State Laboratory came back a report confirming the doctors diagnosis of "diphtheria". Who can say but that the timely discovery of this case by the vigilance of the nurse saved our community from a danger ous epidemic.
 What then does the Visiting nurse do?
 She gives skilled nursing care to the sick in their homes.
 She teaches the school children health habits and safeguards them against disease.
 She instructs mothers in the prop CT care of infants.
 She helps mothers to provide prop CT health conditions in the home.
 In these ways she safeguards the health of the entire community.
 Are these things worth while? Every wide awake intelligent com munity is answering that they are, today by seeking to provide this visiting nursing service. Our own in North Canaan is already we'll estab- Eahed brt the work is growing and it's demands are increasing.
 Our Association wants to be able to furnish nursing service for every case that demands it. Will you help make this possible next Saturday?
 The canvassers will go out on their mission Saturday morning. They are Eiving time and money and they ask eur most generous contribution. Give them a welcome and the en- eouragement that speaks through an 1pen pocket book. If for any reason hey miss you don't let the Asscia- ion miss your offering but send 1t to Dr. Hassett Treasurer