Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 265, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1911 — TO TEST EARS OF CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

TO TEST EARS OF CHILDREN

Pennsylvania Health Officers Will Examine All Pupils Who Seek to ( Enter Public Schools. * > Harrisburg, Pa.—State Health Commissioner Dixon is preparing to make the medical of school''children authorized by the new school code. The Inspections will be made in 785 school districts, which means that 250,000 children will receive the direct benefits of this important work. The inspectors will also make, a thorough investigation of tl*e sanitary conditions existing at the schools. The medical inspector will be instructed to note the age and sex of .the pupil, the condition of sight, hearing, respiration, skin, teeth, cervical glands, contagioundlseases, pulmonary tuberculosis and deformities. Each eye will be tested separately, using Snellen’s chart at 20 feet The presence of blepharitis, conjunctivitis, iritis or trachoma or any affection of the cornea will be observed. Each ear will likewise be tested separately for accuracy of hearing by whispering also at 20 feet, the distance at which the whisper is heard being used all the numerator and the distance at which it should be heard given as the denominator of the fraction. Defective teeth and nasal breathing will be noted. , • “ If Indications of present or recent contagious disease are found, note will be made of the fact and the exclusion of the child and its brothers and sisters at once ordered. Under no circumstances will the medical inspector advise as to the selection of a physician or communicate with the family

of a pupil personally with regard to the results of the examination, all reports to the family being made directly from the department * Upon receiving the -reports at the central bureau in Harrisburg the chief medical inspector and his will go over them very carefully and letters will be written to the parents of children In whom physical defects have been found, calling attention to these defects and suggesting that the child be taken to the family physician for a more detailed examination and treatment