Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-12-20
Public Health Work in Villas County

D6u. WHEN ulu you get nOIHe
when you left me here, it is very
nice place here they are good to
you, how is my little brother l
so often think of him, gee l wish
he was here for he would get a
lot bringing up here, send him if
you can he is so nice. you get bet
ter stOf here. please tell my par
ents to send my skates, we got
big lake where we can skate in
the winter and swim in the sum-
er, we got lots of fun. At first |
worked on the farm and then in
the kitchern and now l am in
bed; please answer soon
Three girls have been placed in
the Home for the Feeble Minded at
Chippewa Falls, and a woman is at
Oshkosh receiving treatment for men
tai diseases. A six year old boy has
been taken to the Bradley Memorial
and from there he was taken to the
Pres. Hospital in Chicago while at
the later he has undergone several
operations on his head. The latest
reports are that he is improving.
A Maternity and Infant Health Cen
ter has been established in the coun-
ty, Center day is held once a month,
where expectant mothers, and chill
dren under seven years of age can be
examined by woman physician sent
out by the State Board of Health.
Several interesting cases have been
brought in to the clinics.
July 11-12-13-14, 1923 chest clinics
were held in different parts of the
county. Over two hundred examina-
lions were made by DR.. T. L. Harring
ton and DR.. J. F. Shimpa, assisted by
Miss Dorothy Durbin and local wom-
en-. From July 1927 The Child We'll
fare Special, sent out by the State
Board of Health and in charge of
Dr. Blanch Rivers visited several
towns in the county and examined
mothers and children of pre-school
age. Over three hundred examina-
tions being made. In doing Follow Up
work we find that a great deal of
good has been derived from the spec
ial, one case, three year old child,
can now walk with the aid of chair.
The parents followed closely the in
structions given by DR.. Rivers. We
often hear the remark that the Coun-
ty nurse is an added expense to the
county and that not enough help is
derived from her work to outstand
the cost of retaining her office. Let
us cite this one case and see how you
would answer the question. A child
in school is backward in her work,
neither the teacher nor the parent
can understand why the child does
not progress. The reason was soon
found when the eyes were examined,
the eyes were found to be in a ser
ious condition. A home call was at
once made, which ended by taking
the girl to an eye clinic, at this elm,
ic, the doctor in charge found the
eyes in a serious condition and stated
that had the child gone another six
months without any correction, the
eye sight would have been lost The
parents of this child have indeed been
worry grateful. Supposing she had
been your child? What would your
answer be?
This is only one case, many such
case5 have been found. Another case:
A baby not quite a year old, the
mother said she didn't know what
was wrong, the baby cried so much.
and seemed to be sick When asked
what She was feeding the child, she
knew it wasn't that because the child
was eating the same as the rest of
the family, meat, potatoes, gravy,
some times beans, cake, pie and cof-
fee. Before the nurse left the mother
promised to keep the baby on bet
ter diet. one Otnor case child was
given garlic and coffee in hopes of
curing Group and pneumonia.
During the past year Miss Christ
man has had some amusing cases,
which would give one the impression
that she is rather a hard hearted
person. One man wanted her to take
his seventeen year old son in hand
because he Didn't have the heart to
punish him another a boy of twelve
years, plays truant from school, and
when told that the County Nurse was
coming, quickly tainted.
The hearty cooperation given the
nurse is greatly appreciated, you will
always find her ready to receive any
suggestions which you might offer
that will help in any way to better
the Public Health work in Villas Coun-
ty.-Ann Christmas. County Nurse.