DISTRICT NURSING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10133, 11 January 1911, Page 3

DISTRICT NURSING.

AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT. (Contributed.) Perhaps one of the most effective means of helping the poor and needy is a modern institution known as the "District Trained Nurses Society," which had its in Liverpool 50 years ago, by the philanthropic energies of the late MiWilliam Rathbone. SomeSidea of the- popularity and progress of.the movement may be gathered by the fact that at the jubilee Congress held in Liverpool a. few months ago a thousand representatives from places so far separated as Canada, Sweden, United States, Holland, France, Bulgaria, Germany, the Bermudas, Australia, and other places met to hold counsel together. Among the distinguished visitors was Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise, representing Her Ma,p esty the Queen, whilst the Duke of Argyll, .the Countess of Aberdeen, Viscount Gosehen, Lady Helen Muii-' |0 Ferguson, and other well-known personages were present, and took part in the interesting and useful deliberations.

Perhaps one of the most interesting, if not the most useful, branches of the Society is that of school nursing. The .nurse—always Jughly trained and qualified— accompanies the medical man in his school inspection, helping him as he examines the classes all through the school.

In. cases of ill-health discovered by the doctor, the child is charged with instructions to take home- to the par-' ents.- Later on the nurse follows' up .'the child to its home to see hdw far the doctor's instructions have been obeyed, and with what results, which are reported. The nurse afterwards regularly visits, the school independ- j erii'ly of the medical man to make her ' own observations and ' report the same. She can exclude children on her own" authority—children suffer- • irig from such i complaints as ringworm ,or scabies, while she, attends to,. minor troubles on the spot, such as eores, chilblains, specially* attending to matters of,' personal hygiene, the'teethi The result; of "all :v are welcomed . ft by ;i tHe;'; : parents and children, : r b^^l^^ratrougli; them j; tained, treatment rend£fce||more effective, absence; from 'sch\)oi ..on*}, account of illness, '! v '''»^ There appears to be a ,conc#nsuV of opinion that the' ofnurses into the schools ' quite a revolution in the matter of cleanliness, as with few exceptions parents gratefully accept tile visits , of these grac'ous and well-trained nurse angels. }

This biaiitii of the Society is taking hold in Australia, and is said to have a very beneficent effect. ; VWhy not New Zealand? In Australia,, Adelaide is the stronghold of y tW ; District 'where..,the ;;syste|p|^a;s:;been ;;ea.ip&s' hav'as sixteen nurses who' !s§s& V during the .year 1910, 48,000 The Society in that .city.-. 'ossP popular, and is magnificently '•'lmported by the citizens, the speo:.idl contributions amounting to as ;;niuch during. the same #&"'• is a strong reserve ■fund, and also an endowment fund. During the last twelve years the has Delivery rapid in the State, and is doing an incalculable amount of good.

A scheme of federal organisation was proposed quite 'recently, whicli was enthusiastically refused by the Adelaide, General Committee (which of twenty ladies and twenty gentlemen), on account of the fact that the South. Australian work had evolved to such a high state of efficiency that it was necessary at present for it to be under immediate State? control,, and not general federal government.

New Zeaiand is not behind in successful efforts in the directjp.ii of District . Nursing, and a ;few : months ago the benevolent people of Masterton liberally responded to a combined effort of the churches , to raise ,funds to establish a branch in our own town. So far nothing has been heard of the matter, but perhaps it will not be long before we shall be able to boast of a highlytrained nurse visiting our homes and schools..