New Britain herald., 1927-11-23
VISITING NURSES
 HISTORY STRETCHED
Miss Colby Describes Growth
 at Exchange Club Meeting

The people of New Britain have confused ideas concerning the ac- tivities of the Visiting Nurse associ3- ton and do not realize the actual aC- plishments of this society" de- clared Miss Rachel Colby at the meeting Of the Exchange club held last evening at the BurrItt Hotel. The speaker was introduced by Tru- man Reed.
 Miss Cobey spoke as follows;
 The Visiting Nurse Association was formally founded November 10th, 1905, twen,y-two years ago this month. Many citizens, Of whom I understand Mrs. Charles F. Wet more and Dr. z. Davis were leaders, had for some time believed that there was an urgent need for q home nursing service in New Brit ain at a moderate fee. Several tn- formal meetings were held 10 dis cuss the matter. The city meeting, however. was called in the City Court room, November 10th. 1905, when a resolution was presented for tho establishment of a Visiting Nurse Association Of New Britain. It was accepted and 2 constitution and nine men voted in as Directors, One week later at Q Directors meet Ing, Mir. C. J. Parker was nominated for President of the new association. He declined to serve, however, and MT. c. F.. We,more was elected in his stead
 "The purpose of the Association, as stated in that first constitution was "to provide compctant nurses to visit the homes of such persons as do not need or are not able 10 secure the services of a resident nurse" Few visiting nurse associa- tions have so carefully avoided the use of the idea of sweet charity" in a statement of their objcctives as we find here recorded, and in conse- Quence are not as free to become real community servants as though their purpose had been more broad ly phrased.
 "Our founders moved at their first meeting with quick decision and q great deal of tact and forethought.
 "One nurse was engaged within the next three months and her suc- cess insured the pcrmanency of the work. In 1907 two nurses were nec- essary. In 1908 a Woman6 auxiliary to the board of male Directors was thought advisable. Mrs. Hungcrford was appointed chairman of the aux Hilary with all the members of the Esther Stanley Chapter of the D. A. R. to assist her. Their special and very important function was to equip and maintain q loan closet for the nurses. Their activities broaden ed, however, and at an early meet ing the following year, 1909, twelve women were elected to the Director ship of the organization. three of whom were immediately placed in office and the rcsiCnatons of the previous male Directors and foun- ders, accepted. Since that time cner- getic thinking women of New Brit 'bii4. iItih loi S''l tlt htE lOI ptAAti health and it Is interesting to note that some of the now routinely nc cepted health agencies of New Brit ain, have had their origin in the Visiting Nurse Association.
 Tuberculosis nursing for instance, was carried by the Visiting Nurse Association until q separate Tuber- culosis Relief Society was formed. which guaranteed to raise it's own funds and to maintain a nursing staff. At present three nurses under take both the preventive and bed side nursing care Of all cases Of Tuberculosis in New Britain, sepa- rate from the Visiting Nurse Asso- ciation. Likewise school nursing md Dental Hygiene now under the board of education and the Department of Health, were first demonstrations by the Visiting Nurse Association.
 The Child Welfare work being conducted in New Britain is an out growth of the old Visiting Nurse Milk Station cndcavor to save the lives Of babies Later the Milk Sta lion Committee developed q separate board and later still returned 10 the Visiting Nurse Association as an In- fant Welfare Division. Today we have Child Welfare program which begins before inc child is born. attends the mother of the child at birth and for inc first fen days after, then, at regular inter- Nals until the child enters school. That is the program which had it's origin in the dispensing Ot free clean milk and formulas 10 so called needy" babies.
 Contagious Disease nursing in the home is another project promoted