SCHOOL PHYSICIANS’ BULLETIN 13

“ATHLETE’S FOOT’’

Dr. Earl H. Coleman, Director of Health and Physical Education in the Fresno California Public SchooIs, writes the BULLETIN as follows:

‘‘I have a suggestion to make for the BULLETIN. Why not get an expression from various men as to what they are doing to control the so-called “Athlete’s Foot?’’ I am sure such a symposium printed in the BULLETIN would be welcotned by hundreds of physicians having to sug- gest procedures to their various school boards. I know Dr. Houloose of Long Beach has given a great deal of thought and study as doubtless have several others.”

The BULLETIN will be pleased to act as a medium of exchange of ex- periences by school medical inspectors in dealing with this frequent and troublesome disorder. Let us hear from you.

Tuberculosis Among School Teachers

WILLIAM J. RYAN, M.D.

Summit Park Sanatorium, Pomona, hi. Y. From the light of our present knowledge, we know that tuberculosis in

its early stage can be and frequently is present in the lungs of many people without the disease manifesting symptoms. It is estimated that from one to two per cent of the total population are suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis in various stages, although the larger number of those become spontaneously cured. The chest X-ray examination of university students, of training school nurses, and even the employees of the larger industries, is becoming more frequent and its value definitely proven in detecting unsuspected tuberculosis of the lungs.

During the past two years, we have tuberculin tested children of the seventh and eighth grades and high schools in three towns of our county whose population is about 5,000 each. All children who reacted to the tuberculin test were X-rayed.

In the first school visited many of the teachers expressed the desire of having their chests X-rayed and their request was granted. The results found were so interesting that it stimulated us to continue this work in the two other high schools where nearly all of the teachers were eager to take advantage of the opportunity. The X-ray exposures were made by means of a portable machine in the schools, a few being done each day after the classes were dismissed.

All teachers showing X-ray evidence of a positive or suspicious lesion were given a physical examination and another X-ray on the high power machine at the sanatorium, a few miles away.

The following table indicates the results found among the 90 teachers whose chests were X-rayed :

14 SCHOOL PHYSICIANS’ BULLETIN

Total number teachers X-rayed. ........................ .90 Number of chests found normal ........................ .72 Number with minimal arrested tuberculosis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Tuberculosis, minimal quiescent. .......................... 1 Tuberculosis, minimal active. ............................ 1 Tuberculosis suspects ................................... 2

(Nearly all were sinall healed apical lesions)

Other conditions detected were cardiac 2, non-tuberculosis pulmonary disease 1, disease of the spine 1.

The most important case detected by the investigation was a young woman in her twenties who was found to have active tuberculosis. Her lesion was small and when detected her school year was near the close. By complete rest during the Summer vacation, the process improved sufficiently to allow her to resume teaching in the Fall. Examination at three-month intervals during the past school year has found this young woman remaining well. The case, classified as quiescent, had some tuber- culosis in both lungs and will bear close observation.

One of the cardiaic cases detected was also in need of medical attention.

CONCLUSIONS Tuberculosis is very prevalent during the age-period of 20 to 35 years.

For the protection of the health of the teacher, the small trouble and ex- pense of an X-ray of the chest is justifiable, since an occasional active tuberculous case with positive sputum will be detected. A teacher who by chance might have a positive sputum would be a grave menace to her students. Where students are X-rayed in the schools for tuberculosis, an opportunity should be given to the teachers for an X-ray of the chest, and there is no logical reason why they should not accept it. The time is not far distant when this will be a routine procedure.

WELL TO REMEMBER We cannot hope to change a child’s heredity once that he is here, but

we can control home and school environment; we can control his diet, his play and his earlier training in such a way as to bring his latent resources to ful l fruition, making it possible for him to grow into a wholesome personality, instead of seeing him frustrated in his attempt at self-devel- opment, and in his desire to acquire poise, balance, happiness and satis- factory social adaptation.-Good Health, August 1932.

Oh blessed health.

Choose your food wisely and chew your food well.-Aiizericait DeTttal

Thou art above all gold and treasure.-Sterne.

Asso ciatio II . ~~~ ~

BUY YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES OF OUR ADVERTTSERS