"The Role of the Public Health Nurse in Syphilis Control" was ably presented by Miss Gladys Crain of the Massachusetts State Department of Health at a joint session of public health nurses with the Industrial Hygiene Section and the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness. She emphasized the generalized public health nurse as an important factor in the control of syphilis since in the regular course of her work she is trained to see the family as a unit. Miss Naomi Deutsch, Chairman of the Public Health Nursing Section, presented the recent developments in public health nursing to the Health Officers at their session on "What Every Health Officer Should Know." At the Professional Education Committee luncheon, Miss Marian Howell, Dean of Western Reserve University School of Nursing, gave a vivid picture of the education of nurses for community health service. Miss Howell emphasized the need in the nursing profession for young women who have a broad general education and cultural background as well as a sound preparation in basic nursing and the science of public health. The Nursing Section participated in two special sessions on general public health problems. Miss Fox prepared a paper on "Recent Advances in the Field of Public Health Nursing" in which she enumerated the newer fields which have recently been opened to public health nurses. Owing to illness, Miss Fox was unable to present her paper, which was read by Miss Deming. At a special session on Public Health Today, Miss Dorothy Deming presented "The Nurse as an Interpreter of Health." Through the introduction of actual case records Miss Deming showed the many opportunities for health interpretation which are open to the generalized public health nurse during a regular day's work. At a special luncheon session of public health nurses, Miss Marian G. Randall reported on the Study of Personnel Practices for Public Health Nurses in Official Agencies which has been conducted by the National Organization for Public Health Nursing. She indicated the great variations that now exist in the personnel practices of many official agencies. In relation to educational requirements for public health nursing positions, it was found that the qualifications of the nurses in some agencies even exceeded those recommended by the N.O.P.H.N., while in others they were still far below standards. However, there is an increase in the number of nurses who have completed an accredited public health nursing course from 7 percent in 1934 to 29 percent in 1937. This is encouraging to those who have worked for the better preparation of public health nurses. NEW OFFICERS OF THE NURSING SECTION The newly elected officers of the Nursing Section are: Miss Mary J. Dunn, Regional Public Health Nursing Consultant, U.S.P.H.S., Chairman; Miss Marguerite Wales, Director, Nursing Service, Kellogg Foundation, Vice-chairman; and Miss Ruth Houlton, Associate Director, National Organization for Public Health Nursing. PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING IN STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AS OF JANUARY 1, 1937 The recent count of public health nurses in the United States1 shows that there had been a marked increase in the number of public health nurses employed as consultants or supervisors by State health departments during the past six years. According to the Study of Nursing in State Health Departments which was made by the National Organization for Public Health Nursing in 1931, thirteen of the State and territorial health departments employed no public health nursing supervisors or consultants. The count of public health nurses as of January 1, 1937, shows that every State and territorial health department has made provision for some type of public health nursing consultation service. The total number of public health nursing administrators, supervisors and consultants employed by State health departments has increased from 149 in 1931 to 322 in 1937 or an increase of about 116 percent. The increase has been greatest in the South-Atlantic and Western districts as will be noted from Table I. TABLE I A Comparison of the Number of Public Health Nursing It is The type of organization varies considerably in the different States. doubtful if any one type of organization would function equally well in every State. To quote Dr. Parran, "Public health organization is not an end in itself but a means to an end." The objective is an efficient productive service and the type of organization which produces such service within the State under con 1. Material collected by the Regional Public Health Nursing Consultants of the U. S. Public Health Service and U. S. Children's Bureau. sideration is the type which should be adopted. The organization of public health nursing services of State health departments may be grouped into four general classes. This classification includes: (1) A separate bureau or division of public health nursing (2) A nursing unit under central administration (3) A nursing unit under local health administration (4) A nursing unit under a division of maternal and child health. The type of organization in each State as of January 1, 1937 is as follows: (1) In 21 States and territories public health nursing is organized as a separate bureau or division. (2) In 7 States it is administered as a unit under central administration. Under such a plan the nursing unit functions much as it does as a separate division or bureau, except that no separate budget is provided for public health nursing. (3) In 5 States public health nursing is one of the several consultation services offered by a division of local health administration. Under such a plan, public health nursing should be organized as a unit, in charge of a competent public health nurse who is administratively on a par with the directors of other special services. (4) In 18 States the public health nursing unit is under the direction of the division of maternal and child health. This does not mean that the public health nursing service in these States is restricted to maternal and child health activities. In practically all of these States, the nursing service is generalized and the emphasis is on a family health service. From Table II, it will be seen that the number of States in which public health nursing has been organized as a separate bureau or division has increased from 9 in 1931 to 21 in 1937. The number of States in which nursing is administered under child hygiene has decreased from 24 in 1931 to 18 in 1937. TABLE II A Comparison of Public Health Nursing Organization in State and Territorial Health Departments in 1931 FUNCTIONS OF A STATE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING UNIT The functions of the public health nursing units in the several State health departments are very similar in principle. The differences are more often due to a difference in extent rather than to a difference in principle. The usual functions of the State public health nursing unit may be briefly summarized as follows: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) To define qualifications of nurses to be employed by State or local health agencies and to review the qualifications of nursing applicants. To plan a program of staff education for nurses employed by State and local health departments. To assist in the introduction of new nurses employed by local health de- To advise the directors of the special divisions of the State health de- In any case the critics of our organized educational insti- BOOK REVIEWS PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY: J. A. SALZMANN. THE STRATFORD Co., BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 1937. 570 PAGES. $4.00. The title of this book is a bit misleading since so much space is devoted to the evolution, history, and organization of the dental profession, dental practice, official and unofficial health agencies--Federal, State, and local. Part I deals with the evolution and history of dentistry from 3700 B.C. to 1935 A.D. Part II of the book treats of the organization of the profession, the development of dental education, the auxiliary services including the dental hygienist and dental assistant, the health and economic phases of private dental practice, and the relationship of the dentist to the physician. Part III is a history of the function and administration of public health service in general and of local, State, Federal services in the United States in particular. This section of the text also includes a description of the activities of the various official and unofficial health agencies in this country up to 1936. In this section the author has drawn extensively upon reports and surveys published by these various agencies. Part IV deals with the economic factors and policies as they relate to community dental service. One chapter is devoted largely to a description of the community dental health program conducted in New York City by the City Department of Health. In this chapter, community dental services in a few other cities, American and foreign, are also briefly described. In Part IV, community dental services are described for adults as conducted by hospitals, industries, colleges, and a miscellaneous group of official and non-official agencies. One chapter in this section deals with the "Standards and Procedures" used in the conduct of endowed dental clinics established for children of the low income groups. The last chapter takes up the principles of dental health education and the manner in which it is carried on in various localities. The opinions of various writers on the subject are freely quoted regarding principles and methods for the promotion of dental health education particularly in schools. This book is a comprehensive history of dentistry and dental practice, private and public. The volume of references and the extensive bibliography testify eloquently to the tremendous amount of work done by the author in its compilation. It is interesting as well as informative reading and will serve as a splendid reference to all who are interested in the evolution of dental practice and public dental health services.--F. C. CADY, Dental Surgeon, USPHS. FINAL REPORT OF THE MIXED COMMITTEE OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS ON THE RELATION OF NUTRITION TO HEALTH, AGRICULTURE AND ECONOMIC POLICY. GENEVA, AUGUST 14, 1937. No. A.13. 1937.II.A. (IN ENGLISH) COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS. NEW YORK. 327 PAGES. $2.00. This book is perhaps the most authoritative and comprehensive study of the broader aspect of the field of nutrition available at the present time. It is, as the title indicates, a Report of the Mixed Committee on the Relation of Nutrition to Health, Agriculture and Economic Policy, and is based on the experience and assembled data of the Committee as a whole, and of its subcommittee. This Committee was set up under a resolution of the Sixteenth Assembly of the League of Nations in 1935, and was composed of official and unofficial nutrition, agriculture and economic experts from various countries, including Belgium, Chile, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland |