Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-02
HOME HYGIENE
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKlN.

Gross, for it Is the policy OF the ma
tional organization to encourage all
work to be done locally by local people.
Some of the instruction in the schools
has been supported by donations OF the
chapters. However. there are now many
school boards which have Incorporated
the courses both in the curriculum ana
in the budget.
Factory managers have assigned their
staff nurses and also given half-time
to workers who will give the other half
in exchange for instruction in care OF
themselves and others. State prisons
conduct classes; the new Federal prison
for women In West Virginia, and other
institutions such as orphanages and
industrial schools are giving their people
these advantages. Here the students
can gain practical instruction by caring
for each other under the supervision OF
a nurse when they are laid up. The
classes for the foreign born women are
piece of work In characterization.
Men and Boys Take Courses.
Surprising as it may seem boys and
men not only take these courses, but
request them. The youngsters hear
about them from their sisters and want
to be as fully Informed. They like
knowing how to take care OF their
health In order to be Walter Johnsons
or Gene Tunneys, and they like the
spirit Of team work evidenced in COM
munity welfare programs. Though
they may protest at taking baby sister
out when at home, many Of them write
that they like the instruction in baby
care The classic testimony is that OF
the 11-year-oid who wrote his indorSe-
ment that he might marry lady who
didn't know how to take care OF
baby"
Many of the older men hear of the
| course when they are taking first aid
| instruction. Some of them are husbands
| whose wives can not leave their families
| long enough to take the minimum OF
| "a class hours and who want their
homes to gain the advantages of the
study of health habits. prevention, and
home care of the sick. Others become
| interested when they hear their wives
talk about the course
| It Is difficult to choose between a.:
benefits gained from health educatie1
in rural and urban districts In the over
| crowded sections Of the cities, where
no knowledge of hygiene has penetrated,
| 1t Is really missionary work. For the
| young mothers who wish to learn the
best way to bring UP their children 1t
brings its blessings.
| Farms and Mountains.
IN the isolated farm regions, where
| the doctor is sometimes 20 miles ava1
/ and there Is only one nurse in count
the benefits of this instruction e
obvious
In the mountain schools of those old
| territories, where old English is spoken.
| habit and custom rule, and even super
sition reigns, girls learn to discard
many beliefs and substitute facts They
| learn that 1t Is not unlucky to cut the
finger nails of the bedridden and that
| it is not mark of respect and honor
| for children to witness the death strug-
| giles Of their elders.
| Among what has been termed by a
/ discerning teacher the ''underprivileg-
ed" the rewards of the work are quickly
| recognized. One nurse in the Cumber-
land Mountains, who claims that ad-'
venture. service and sweet satisfaction
are found In her work, has made the
resolution to teach 1000 women. She
has already passed on the knowledge
or better health, better homes and bet
ter communities to more than 200.
There are 1900 nurses throughout the
United States and its possessions who
are acting as teachers. It has been found
70 be a desirable field for the married
nurse. II she cares to she can volun-
teer her services, or, If she prefers. she
can OBTAIN part time employment for