Show SCHOOL AND EPIDEMICS doubt as to the wisdom ot closing schools in epidemics of contagious disease is expressed by dr francis george curtis of newton mass in a bulletin ori on the health of school children just issued by the bureau of education he says if the schools are closed when an out break occurs the children are turned loose from supervision they mingle freely with one another other in the streets on playgrounds and in each others houses they are haying having an extra vacation and enjoying themselves thoroughly and are uri unwilling to admit that they feel ill lest they be I appt appt at home and prevented from having baving a good time for this reason they wi will I 1 not say they feel ill until the disease diseases e AS well advanced and they may be active sources of infection for some time before it is discovered that they are ill if the schools are kept open all and d the children continue in the classrooms as usual they are under strict observation and examined daily by the school physician suspicious and infected ca cases ses being sent home for observation or treatment in this way vay many children are sent home before they have had an opportunity to infect others thus reducing the probability of spreading infection further than this the attention of the parents is called to the fact that the child is feeling ill and he is brought under trea treatment ament earlier 11 it seems therefore that keeping the schools open offers the th e best chance of safety for the pupils both collectively and individually instead of cla closing sing the schools nd allowing the children to be scattered and removed from supervision per vision when an outbreak appears the schools should be kept open as usual and the children arg urged ed to attend the school physician and nurse nurs e should be detailed to the school where the outbreak has appeared alid instructed st ted to examine every child daily exclude excluding ng such as as appear ill or suspicious this can be done with the parent stating that hat the child seems or is ill and must be seen bythe by the f family ami 1 Y physician Ays ician suspicious cases in must list be Q ordered to remain at home until further notice and iid if biec necessary must be visited in ord e er to settle thea thc diagnosis ab sten tees must be examined in order to find out they have been kept at t if they are ra ill they must be isolated andia and if bell urged 6 return to school t this of course applies to schools 11 0 in cities in which school physicians or nurses or both are |