MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 259, 27 July 1920, Page 6

MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS

CANADIAN EXPERIENCES

A short address on tho working of medical inspection of schools in all its departments in Toronto was given by • Mrs. Hamilton, president of Kliandallah branch, to tho quarterly meeting of committees of tho Wellington W.N.lt. It is of spooiai intorest tor two reasons— one being that there the scheme was inaugurated over twelve years ago, and is consequently past tho purely experimental stage, the other being that M're. Hamilton was herself a school nurso under tho system, and therefore speaks from a wido personal experience. The fctalf consists qf chief medical inspector, who has tho entiro work 'of organisation, and has under his jurisdiction a number of medical inspectors, dentists, jmreea, and welfare workors. The last-named compriso tho W.C.T.U., the Women's iiahonal Council, tho Women's Institute and other associated charities; a paid secretary is employed who has an office and can always bo communicated with by th© school nurse. Tho schools are grouped, and a nurso will probably havo under her charge two or more schools. It is quito apparent that it rests with tho nurses to make or mar the work. They require, in addition to knowledge of their profession, wide sympathy and untiring tact and patienco. Upon them devolves tho dolicato task of leading careless or ignorant parents to see what is right to do for thoir progeny. To gently insinuate into dirty and insanitary noiues a love of cleanliness and a realisation of how much pleasantor life is if lived decently. A suggestion of dictatorinlness or superciliousness would antagonise instead of helping. Tho nurse's daily programme in tho schools is as follows:—Firstly to examine all children who havo boen absent for any reason whatever prior to thoir readmission; then room inspection, with tooth-brush drill. In this tho children march past the nurse, showing first the palms of the hands for possible desquamation, then the backs for cleanliness, then each child draws down its lower eyelids, then opens tho mouth and makes a given sound; in this way many illnesses aro discovered before they reach the dangerous stage. The hair is lilted for examination in passing. There is much stress laid upon handkerchief drill. All children are eapocted to bring handkerchiefs ; those who do not are supplied with paper ones for tho day. They are taught the value of properly blowing the nose several times a day, and not merely wiping it. Any child not up to par io tcmched by the nurse, and gees to ho* office for a more particular examination by tho nureo, or diagnosis by a medical inspector. Onco a fortnight all children aro examined, more particularly when defects of the eye, car, nose, or throat nre traced. All examinations aro followed where necessary by treatment either under the direction of a family physician or in the Children's Ilospital, a wonderful institution, which was built entirely by the efforts of a daily paper. It comprises clinics for tho treatment of all ailments, including eye, ear, and throat troubles!, treatment for adenoids, and very special care of T.B. cases, which are (probably. Largely owing to climatic conditions) f.adly common. Thero aro also the most careful arrangements for oaring for tho teeth. The dcily tooth-brush'drill in ail cchcols (all schools whatsoever come undor, the inspection) is found to bo of inestimablo value, and tlie work of the nurses and the dental clinics is 60 thorough thai, amongst 700 children comprising two schools thero was not ono with 'bad teeth; Following inspections, which each school has probably .twice a week aro visits to the children's homes, Tho nurso is now in a position to eeo why many children are suffering from mal-nutrilion, and to ■act accordingly. /Tho home science classes prepare nourishing food from ingredients supplied by the sclicol boards. This food is made available for lunches for children who cannot get proper food, at home. Tho dishes vary in price from Id. to sd„ but as the nurse distributes tickets the fact of which child pays and which is given tho food free ib known only to her. There aro special classes for children who are not up to tho mark. These are hold out ot doors (on the reef) 6nmmer and winter. In winter the email folk aro'wrapped in rugs and hav« hot water bottles. Twice a day, morning and afternoon, they aro givon hot rnillc or cocoa. With corrective treatment and this care many children ranked as mentally defective become quito normal, and the physically weak grow strong. In order that they may not loso ground again during tho long summer vacation, there is a system of summor scnoou. Tho children are collected from given points in trams provided by tho tram companies, and are taken io a park by the lake. Hero they aro L-opt all day, given wholesome meals, organised games and compulsory rest during the hottest hours. Another of tho daily papers has an "outing" fund, 'by which children needing it may havo a fortnight at a country farm. Thero is also a special farm as part of tho school system for children who have been exposed In T. 8,, and who therefore, if neglected, might develop this disenw. Thero are special T.B. hospitals for children, and treatment and classes for tho mentally deficient, who are almost invariably found to lack either the thyroid or petuitary gland. Each school has a fully equipped nursery, in which the girls from 10 years upwards are taught everything about tho care of a baby, including formula feeding, which is 6imilar to tho Plunkot system. Bach girl in the year makes a 'baby's complete outfit, ana these aro available for distribution in needy cases. Also onco a week mothers are invited to tho school nursery, and they also are instructed in tho caro OJ infants, and in cases of necessity are helped materially, such help being confidentially obtained from the associated charities through tho school nurse. In fact, the home conditions are known only to tho school nurse, and everything possible is done to maintain and foster Hi» self-respect of the .recipients of 'help. Thoro is no branding or . holding up to public view, no discussion in committees; the word of the nurso is sufficient and she it is who sees that help is given in tho most efficacious way. The results liavo proved most gratifying, and the speaker appealed to nil who aro interested in child welfare to assist t.h» New Zealand Government in every possible way to further their 6chomes in these directions. She wished especially to congratulate tho Government here on •securing tho services of Dr. Hunter ns head of tho Dental Department, which, under a man who places service to his country before mere pecuniary advantage, must be a success. Mrs. Hamilton spoke from a knowledge of Dr. Hunter's military work, which was of a very high order.