Mrs. Eva Hemingray speaks about the Visiting Nurse Association

CLUB WOMEN HEAR PUBLIC

HEALTH PROBLEMS.

"Public Health" was the subject which absorbed the attention of the club women Thursday afternoon, when the Federated Club of Women's Clubs met at the home or Mrs. J. R. Marsh. Dr. J. C. Quick, county health com­missioner, appeared before the club women of Delaware County to speak concerning the need of educating the public in reference to the prevention of disease. He urged the importance of caring for the minor ills; so many apparently little things, not worth noting, poison the system, producing an inflamed rendition of the lining of the blood vessels. High blood pressure often comes from infection. Often a decayed tooth produces serious results. People should learn the importance of minor ailments. Con­sult a physician, instead of the kindly disposed neighbor who has a cure-all for every ill.

There is much need for education in personal hygiene and the simple rules of right living — a clean body, fresh air, clean and properly prepared food, as well as a well-balanced diet. This is the time to make preparations for the prevention of the promised epidemic of flu. There is need for united effort. Education through the schools, also the use of motion picture films, were suggested as some effective ways of reaching the people.

Mrs. Ralph Hemingray, the next speaker, told of the very fine work onw [sic] now being done as preventive measures by the Visiting Nurse Associa­tion. Mrs. Sarah Hartley, superin­tendent, has been giving three after­noons of each week, going from build­ing to building, making regular sched­uled visits, to talk to the pupils on personal hygiene, proper diet and dress necessary to insure perfect health. Three half-days are not enough for this important work; there should be an all-time school nurse. Public school funds are not available for this purpose. Patrons should demand that such legislative measures be enacted as will provide not only medical in­spection of school children, but the employment of a school nurse or nurses as the need may require. Medical inspection without a nurse to do the follow-up work is not very far reaching in results.

An epidemic is a reproach to any city. Mrs. Hemingray, as chairman of legislation for the Visiting Nurse Association, was responsible for the bill introduced by Senator McKinley in the interest of prevention of dis­ease. The bill would have given the council power to appropriate funds for the work as such preventive organizations as the Visiting Nurse Associa­tion, which is organized and incor­porated to prevent disease under the laws of the state. The bill was all right; it passed both houses, and was assured of the Governor's signature. However, it never reached his hands, in the final rush the steering commit­tee ran amuck, and the bill was steered out, instead of into the Gov­ernor’s hands.

Mrs. Hemingray deserves much credit for the way she performed her part. The bill will come up again, and women should unite in demanding its enactment into law, for the stamping out of a disease are impor­tant. but it is far better to legislate to prevent disease. Mrs. Hemingray talked about the confidential exchange recently established by all the social service agencies in the city, in which all agreed to report every case, giving a complete history by a card system, in which aid of any sort had been given. The object is to prevent dupli­cation, thereby encournging pau­perism and deception. The Associated Charities, now know us the "Social Service Bureau," will have charge of the confidential exchange records, since their province is primarily in­vestigation, and not the giving of aims. Clubwomen and clubs that are in th habit of doing some charity work each year are urged to make use of the exchange. Inquire before you give aid, and report to the ex­change after you bestow your gifts.

Remember Old Folks at Home.

After the superintendent of the Old Folks' Home told of their needs to the clubwomen last month, the executive committee of the federation thought it would be nice to give a Victrola to be placed in the women's building. Mrs. Burt Whiteley of the Conversa­tion Club very kindly offered to fur­nish the instrument if the club women would donate the records. Anyone having records they would like to donate for the pleasure of these lonely women may leave them at the home of Mrs. Barrett, 502 East Adams street. It might be well to inquire what records have been given, in order to avoid duplications. One should also consider the kind of music that will give cheer and comfort to these forlorn ones in their declining years.

The piano duet played so artistic­ally by Mrs. Emory Niday and Mrs. Robert Bradbury, was greatly appre­ciated. The interesting reports of out-of-town clubs will be published later.