The Washington times., 1922-11-01

brighter, healthier and more nearly
normal children.
Supervised by inspectors.
These courses for mothers would
be properly supervised by the medi-
cal inspection service OF which DIR.
Murphy Is the head. and would be
personally directed by medical In
spectors. trained nurses. dental In
speCtors and dental hygienists.
At the present time, DR.. Murphy
states, every third child in the city
OF Washington is under weight.
This means that in each school
there would be available children
who could be chosen as subjects
for clinics that would be held In
connection with the schools for
mothers.
Why certain foods are recon-
mended by the medical inspectors
and nurses. the effect of these foods
on the child. and the Importance
of n daily nap for small children.
and the effect of sunshine on the
teeth and child generally would be
the principal subjects sought In the
proposed schools.
No Additional Expense.
Such a course for mothers would
be possible with virtually no addi-
tional expense. and 1t Is believed
by those supporting the plan that
IL would be most effective step
toward getting the whole hearted
support of the mother in the Board
of Educations campaign to pro-
duce a healthy as we'll as an edu-
Gated child.
A few years ago, when the dental
clinics were first put into the
schools. thousands OF children were
backward in their studies because
of bad teeth and the disorders that
resulted therefrom. At the present
time the inspectors examine an
nually the teeth of about 10000
children and give treatment to
5000. The past three years has
seen a marked decrease in the num-
Der needing treatment. the records
show
There are now four dental in.
spectors and four dental hygienists,
who are Paid for only part time
service. The law calls for one
" oman inspector. The woman In.
spector who has been doing this
work has resigned. and no other
woman will take the Job because
the pay is only $500 per year for
considerable arduous duty.
DIR. Murphy May Leave.
1t is becoming more difficult each
year to get professional men and
women to take these positions be.
cause of the small pay.
DIR. Murphy, who gives his entire
time to the work, Is known to have
recently been offered a similar posi-.
ton in another city at a salary
exactly double the sa.ary he Is re.
ceiving from the District Of Colum.
bia. 1t is said that he Is seriously
considering accepting the place.
There are twelve medical inspec.
tors who devote only part time to
the schools and ten nurSes who give
full time to the work.
What is expected to prove Of
great value. to the school system
is the offer by the management OF
the Children's Hospital, at Thir.
teenth and w streets, Of the use Of
their quarters for a clinic for un.
der-nourished school children. This
clinic is already maintained for
children in that neighborhood. A
more elaborate work to include
children from the schools generally
is proposed. The details have not
yet been worked out.
DR.. Murphy's Statement.
"Outside agencies cam do much
to counteract the ill.effects of the
present system" DR.. Murphy said
today. I'VE have nothing more
hazardous to the health Of the
small school children than the split
or maritime sessions.
"These children attend school in
the mornings on certain days in
the week and then alternate and
attend school in the afternoons.
Few. IL any children, can con-
centrate on school work In the
afternoons after playing and firing
themselves in the forenoon. Every
child's program should be SO ar.
ranged as to give him opportunity
for a nap in the afternoon.
ITO permit a child to play in
the morning and then force him to
60 to school in the afternoon is
certain to undermine his health and
produce disorders that will affect
his whole life."