Connecticut western news., 1921-07-07
ANNUAL MEETING OF
 NURSING ASSOCIATION Interesting Report by Visiting
 Nurse for Past Year

The annual meeting of the Visit Nurse Association was held at the Town Hall last Wednesday evening. Due to the stormy weather only small number attended. Aside from the nurses annual report, an inter esting reel of motion pictures were shown and an equally interesting talk by Miss Spence of the Public Health department was given.
 Officers of the association elected for the ensuing year are as follows:
 President, J. Henry Roraback; vice president, Rev. A. K. Skinner; secretary, Miss Catherine H. Rora- back; treasurer, Dr. J. E. Hassett. Directors, pr. J. G. Adam, pr. F. H. Lee, Mrs. F. F. Clemans, Mrs. Ella Considine, Mrs A. K. Skinner, Rev. IA. N. Griffin, Rev. F. H. Neal, Rev. Joseph W. Barry, w. M. Teague, W. J. Reel, B. E. Stratton. - Finance Committee: E. L. Roberts, G. w. Parsons, G. P. Hardenbergh, J. A. Bianchi. Auditor, E. L. Rob erts
 Committee on Supplies: Mrs. J. Henry Roraback, Mrs. N. l.. Jackson, Mrs. Robert Fletcher.
 Hard work, interesting eXperi- ences and pleasant associations~ have filled the past months.
 The spirit of cooperation has been splendid and has helped greatly in the accomplishment of much that has been done.
 TLa Eo-J oo, so o,anarousIv dom ated by the Town is a "Blessing". Since its acquisition, two months ago, the work has practically doubled itself and it has been possible to reach families more readily in iso- lated regions of the Town and to give more efficient service.
 The need for preventive work is apparent and is the most important part of the work of the Public Health Nurse. Where there is only one nurse in a Town, she does general or community nursing, combining every branch of nursing
 It would be utterly impossible for one Visiting Nurse to care for fifty sick people in a community, only limited amount of work could be done and the entire community would not be benefited, The nurse reaches a great many more people by emphasizing the preventive work advising along the lines of every day hygiene instruction of mothers in the care of infants and children, su- pervision of the school children, in addition to the necessary care of the sick, thus serving the community at large.
 The Public Health Nurse gives no drugs and carries out no treatment, unless under the direction of a 7hy- sician, but advises along the lines of hygiene and sanitation and instruct ing by practical demonstration. She iS dependent entirely upon the will ingness of her patients to carry out her suggestions. She must be able to impress the patient with her abil- ity, proving her right to advise, Shus winning confidence and securing cooperation.
 For the first time in the history of the North Canaan Visiting Nurse Association the school children have been given a physical examina- tion by the school physician, consist ing of an examination of the heart, lungs, nose, throat, ears, teeth and eyes.
 The result proved interesting and revealed that more than half of the children in the schools of North Canaan had one or more physical defects. Only the most urgent cases were recommended for correction. These findings alone are Indicative of the necessity for preventive or health work.
 Dr. Thos. R. Wood, of the National Council of Education, says, that every school child should have a health examination at least once a year.
 The great world war has shown us with dramatic illumination the weak ness of the nations young manhood, dependent in vital measure upon neglect in childhood and in youth.
 The organization of Health Clubs in the schools has done much to stimulate the children in personal hygiene and health principles.
 During the winter months hot cocoa was served in four of the schools of the Town.
 The school children under the aus pices of the Visiting Nurse Associa- ton carried on the Christmas seal campaign with much enthusiasm, selling 5400 seals, netting the sum of $5400.
 Literature published by the Children's Bureau at Washington, has been distributed in the homes where there are children.
 We are indebted to the Metropoli- tan Life Insurance Company for very helpful and practical health literature, which also has been dis : +y.ibutaJ in tba bop,as oF DoI;,,,