Medical inspection of schools in Providence. Address / by Charles V. Chapin.

  • Charles V. Chapin
Date:
1908
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Medical inspection of schools in Providence. Address / by Charles V. Chapin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    how to heal open sores and discharging ears. I have questioned whether it would not be well to employ such a nurse in Providence, but I am in- clined to think that it would be better to have an- other medical inspector. The nutrition of school children is now receiving considerable attention, and also their general physical development. Some municipal and state laws require the thorough ex- amination of every child once a year. How thor- oughly that is carried out I do not know. If it is done well, it must require a large number of skilled physicians. It seems to me that even if all the children are not subjected to such a thorough ex- amination at least the more feeble, poorly nour- ished, and backward children should be, and for this purpose I would like to see our force increased. Our inspectors are much impressed by the poor condition of the teeth of school children, and the utter lack of the parents’ interest in this important matter. It seems as though something ought to be done to prevent this reckless disregard of this portion of the child’s anatomy. Yet it is difficult to see how anything can be accomplished except by the employment of municipal dentists. These are employed quite generally in Germany, and to some extent in England, but I am afraid that our people would not take kindly to such a socialistic movement. In conclusion, I would say that I believe that school inspection is a good thing, and that it is pos- sible to accomplish a great deal with a very small expenditure of money. Even the smallest com- munities should provide for such inspection, though in many instances it may be difficult to obtain the