Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-09

Il
During the past two and half
months, the county nurse has inspected
the schools of Ellsworth and Stratford
and more than seventy country schools.
In round numbers she has examined
1900 children. sent over 500 notices to
parents, made 20 home calls and %
professional calls, given 80 health
talks to children, 20 talks to parents.
and carried out publicity program.
The school inspection is the foundation
of public health work. The teachers
are helping in the campaign by health
teaching, by making posters and by the
| Health Crusade.
/; A case has been called to the atten-
ton Of the county nurse where the fol-
lowing conditions are said to exist. A
little girl in the home had an attack
of pneumonia last year. The parents
are fearful that she will have another
attack this winter. She has not been
allowed to play out of doors. and a
blanket is pinned over her closed Win
dow at night to exclude the least brea tn
of air. In their devotion the parents
are paving the way for tuberculosis.
There is no need for exposure, hut
every child should play out OF doors
an hour a day at least. and have fresh
air in the sleeping room. Our best hos
pitfalls treat pneumonia by having cool
fresh air IN the room. The old prac-
ticc of keeping patient III 4, heated
closed room has gone into the discard.
along with the practice of not giving
water to fever patients.
The new bulletin put out by tne state
board of health has some new and in
teresting statements. The common
drinking cup and the common towel are
absolutely prohibited by state law in
all public buildings. The county nurse
is glad to report that practically every
school she has visited is complying with
the law and has dispensed with the old
tin dipper. The common towel is still
often; in evidence, but many schools
have individual or family towels, and
number have paper towels.
The itch is losing its "hand hold in
our schools. The little burrows are not
able to withstand the onset OF scrub
bling and application of sulphur. Tie
state law plainly states that ANY child
suffering from itch, ringwom. impetigo
or favus GALL skin diseases) shall be
excluded from school, They may re-
turn when they are under treatment,
which will prevent the infection from
spreading.
Miss Lola Yorkes of the State Uni-
versity hospital visited Hamilton coun-
ty in December. Miss Yorkes does the
follow up work of cases which nave
been treated at Iowa City under the
Perkins law. She and Miss Bonner
made a number of home calls IN Web
ster City, kamrar and Williams. The
Perkins law provides for the free treat
ment at Iowa City of all children I'M
der 1G, whose parents are not finan-
cially able to have defects remedied or
treatment given. No child need suffer
even in these hard times. for Iowa en-
cellent law makes provision for all
treatment and travelling expenses. and
n nurse escort to and from Iowa City.
The state believes in caring for its I'LL
fire citizens at the time when help VIII
moan the most. An examination must
he made by Il doctor and the appllca-
ton made must be signed by the Judge
The county bears the cost OF the 1irst
trip. but all further expense is horn
nv the state. Hamilton county mas
very small quota of those who have
taken advantage of this law. hut there
are dozens of children i'll the county
who are not having defects corrected
because of the prohibitive cost. Miss
Yorkes says that the school children
If counties near Iowa City come in
droyes" for the correction of both small
and serious defects.
Miss Hazel POulsOn's school in Mar
ion township went over the top looI
per cent with all seventeen pupils own
ing tooth brushes.
little Bo-Peep has lost her teeth
And this is the tale about them:
Had she brushed them each day,
As the Health Chores say,
She needn't have been without them.
The most amazing candor is some
times encountered among the children
in regard TO health matters. One liftie
fellow in Ellsworth informed the nurse
'.You must turn your head away from
the table when you cough, especially II
you've got company