SCHOOL INSPECTION. The importance of the supervision of the health and hygienic conditions which surround the thousands of school children in the United States can no longer be questioned. Every school, whether situated in a rural community or in a town, requires adequate medical supervision. Medical inspection of schools means the saving of thousands of dollars to the public as well as to the parents. At least 10 per cent of the money spent each year in the United States upon the public schools is spent for children who could not attend because they are suffering from some physical defect or contagious disease. The families of these children spent in addition an equal amount for their care while sick. In communities where school inspection has been properly carried out a remarkable reduction in the amount of contagious disease has been the result. This reduction of contagious disease was among the general population as well as the children attending school. By means of school inspection defects which tend to lower individual resistance and increase the susceptibility of a child to contagious diseases are recognized. Such defects also retard mental development and prepare the way for degenerated diseases in later life. When defects are found parents are informed and urged to have them corrected. A large number of men deparred from military service of the United States recently because of physical disability shows that many such defects which could have been corrected in childhood, had they been known, remain uncorrected. School inspection also assists in detecting cases of defective or retarded children, so that they may be given special instruction and encouragement. Evidence of successful vaccination against smallpox should be one of the entrance requirements for every school in the United States. Every school building should be provided with the following: Adequate and safe system of sewage disposal. Properly constructed water-closets or sanitary privies. Clean drinking-water supply and sanitary drinking fountains. Adequate heating system. Buy a war savings stamp.. 7.07 4.38 Children of defective mentality are recognized by school inspection.. 13 Saturday. 14 Sunday America must feed herself and her allies; save food. 15 Monday. Pellagra investigations begun by United States Public Health Service, The person who hoards food is working against the common good.... 25 Thursday... Christmas Day. 26 Friday. 27 Saturday. 28 Sunday. President Wilson issues proclamation taking over the railroads. 29 Monday.. Births and deaths are the items in the bookkeeping of vital statistics; 7.18 4.46 31 30 Tuesday. Wednesday. Teach the children to keep their hands clean.. Five filthy fingers on each hand, they help to spread disease.. THE HANDS AS DISEASE SPREADERS. The great agent in the spread of those diseases whose causative organism is present in the secretions of the mouth and nose is the human hand; and if saliva was bright green we would be amazed at the color of our fingers. As a matter of fact most of us carry our fingers to our mouth or nose many times a day, there to implant the germs of disease which other careless people have spread about, there to collect a fresh cargo of infectious material to scatter for somebody else. (North Dakota Public Health Bulletin.) SOME IMPORTANT TRUTHS. 1. It is easier, better, and cheaper to prevent than to cure disease. 2. Everything that protects the mother before her baby is born improves the health of the baby after its birth. 3. Many of the diseases observed in older children and adults begin in infancy. 4. Healthy babies make strong men and women. 5. The baby's food, home, and surroundings play an important part in keeping it well or making it sick. 6. Mother's milk is the best food for babies. 7. Cow's milk which has become infected with disease germs kills many babies. 8. Extreme heat and impure air kill many babies in the summer, especially bottle-fed babies. 9. The health and happiness of the whole household are improved by everything done to protect the baby. (The Care of the Baby, Public Health Reports.) PASTEURIZATION OF MILK. The word "pasteurization" is rather a formidable name for a somewhat simple process. The majority of persons upon first hearing the term conceive of an operation incapable of being performed by the average individual. Quite the opposite is true. Pasteurization, providing the proper apparatus is at hand, is no more difficult of accomplishment than many of the processes of cooking performed by the average housewife. The purpose of pasteurization is to kill the harmful bacteria which milk contains. It has been found that when milk is heated to a temperature of 145 F. and sustained at that point for 30 minutes the disease-causing organisms are killed. If the milk is then immediately chilled and further contamination is prevented, it can no longer be considered dangerous to health. Milk which has been adequately pasteurized is therefore to be regarded as the safest milk which one can consume. (United States Public Health Service.) |