Summary

1. Cleveland employs 16 school physicians, one
oculist, and 27 nurses. It spends $36,000 a
year on salaries and supplies for these people,

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and maintains 86 school dispensaries and clinics.
2. Through medical inspection, the educator
and the physician join hands to insure for each
child such conditions of health and vitality
as will best enable him to take full advantage of
the free education offered by the state. It recog-
nizes the Ultimate relationship between the
physical and mental conditions of children. It
realizes that education is dependent upon
health. It betters health conditions among
school children, safeguards them from disease,
and renders them healthier, happier, and more
vigorous.
3. The first work of this kind in Cleveland
started in 1900 when tests were made of de-
fective vision. In 1906 the Health Department
provided mspectors for contagious diseases in
the schools. In the same year inspection for
physical defects was imdertaken; the first dis-
pensary in the United States was established at
the Murray Hill School, and school nurses were
appointed. In 1909 the Division of Health
Supervision and Inspection became part of the
regular school system.
4. The Division handles inspection for con-
tagious disease, inspection for physical and
mental defects, follow-up work for the remedy-
ing of defects, health instruction, recommen-
dations of children to special classes, school

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lunches, gardens, and playgrounds. Every child
is examined every year.
5. Cleveland has 86 dispensaries. In every
case lighting, ventilation, and equipment are
good. It is probably true that these dispensaries
are of better grade than those of any other large
city in the United States.
