Evening star., 1943-05-01
Health Officials
Visit Crippled
Children Today
Observe Moy Day
With inspection
OF GoIIinger

May Day was being observed to-
day by District and Federal officials
with a formal inspection of services
offered by the District Health De-
partment for the care of crippled
children at Gallinger Hospital.
Among those. making the tour,
beginning at 10: 80 am, were Health
Officer George c.. Ruhland and DR.
Edwin F. Daily, director of health
services for the United States
Children's Bureau.
Others participating in the pro-
gram were DR.. Martha M. Eliot, as
sistant chief of the Children's s
Bureau; Assistant Health Officer
Daniel L. Seckinger; DR.. Ella Op-
penheimer, chief of the District
Maternal and Child Welfare Bu-
reau; DR.. Edgar A. Bocock, Gal
linger Hospital superintendent, and
DR.. Bernard J. Walsh, cardiologist
Of the Cripple Children's Clinic.
Miss Lenr0ot Halls d. C. Work.
Commenting on the District child
health work, Miss Katharine Len
root, chief of the United States
Children's Bureau, expressed ap-
probation of the outstanding serv-
ice" being rendered here. She
added: 'The District should be
especially proud of the new sana-
torium for children with rheumatic
fever. 1t is one of the few cities
where such valuable facilities have
been made available for the con-
valescent care of children suffering
from rheumatic fever"
DR.. Rutland explained that dur
ing the past year the first unit in
Washington for Senatorial care of
rheumatic fever patients was opened
at Gallinger Hospital.
Early Examination Urged.
Parents should seek the advice of
a physician promptly if their chill
dren show signs of being sick, for
early diagnosis and proper medical
care over an adequate period of
time are essential in the treatment
of rheumatic fever, DR.. Rutland
said. I'VE are stressing the pre-
vention and care of rheumatic fever
this year." Descriptive booklets are
available to parents, without charge,
at the Health Department.
Joining in observance of Child
Health Day are Community Chest
agencies. The Child Welfare So
clety, which recorded 10,O47 clinic
visits of babies and small children
last year, reported through Miss
Caroline Sweeney, superintendent,
that the problem of proper foods for
growing children has become more
difficult with 1ationing. Some chill
dren have required hospital treat
ment because working parents
placed them in inadequate foster
homes, where they were fed i'm
properly, she said.
Increased Costs Cited.
The seven Community Chest in
stitutions where approximately 425
children are cared for also reported
that rationing and increased cost of
food have created serious problem
but dietitians at these institutions
SO far have been able to provide an
adequate diet. =;
Regarding the child health situa-
ton generally; Miss Gertrude H
Bowling, director Of the Instructive
Visiting Nurse Society, reported that
no major epidemics occurred during
the past year. She warned, however
that overcrowded housing have been
conditions less healthy for many
children, and said major outbreak
OF children's contagious disease
would encounter shortage of prac-
tical nurses as we'll as graduate
nurses.
More than 10000 boy and girl
members of Boy and Girl Scout
troops, the Boys Club of Washing
ton, YMCA, YWCA and Settlement
Houses, observed Child Health day
by carrying on their normal. health
building recreationaI activities.