MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS 



Shortness of Breath. Shortness of breath usually indicates disease 

 of the heart or lungs. If it is associated with blueness, the trouble is 

 usually in the heart. If it is associated with cough, the trouble is more 

 likely to be in the lungs. 



Swellings in the Neck. These may be due to mumps or enlarge- 

 ment of the glands. The swelling of mumps comes on acutely, and is 

 located just behind, just in front and below the ear. Swollen glands 

 are situated lower in the neck, or about the angle of the jaw. They may 

 come on either acutely or slowly. If acutely, they mean some acute 

 condition in the throat. If slowly, they are most often tubercular. 

 They may also be the result of irritation of the scalp or lice in the hair. 



General Lassitude, and Other Evidences of Sickness. These hardly 

 need description, but may, of course, mean the presence or onset of any 

 of the acute diseases. 



Flushing of the Face. This very often means fever, and on this 

 account should be reported. 



Eruptions of any Sort. All eruptions should be called to the atten- 

 tion of the physician. It is especially important to notice eruptions, 

 because they may be the manifestations of some of the contagious diseases. 

 The eruption of scarlet fever is of a bright scarlet color, and usually 

 appears first on the neck and chest, spreading thence to the face. There 

 is often a pale ring about the mouth in scarlet fever, which is very charac- 

 teristic. There is usually a sore throat in connection with the eruption. 

 The eruption of measles is a rose or purplish red, and is in blotches about 

 the size of a pea. It appears first on the face, and is usually associated 

 with running of the nose and eyes. The eruption of chicken pox appears 

 first as small red pimples, which quickly become small blisters. 



A Cold in the Head, with Running Eyes. This should be noticed, 

 because it may indicate the onset of measles. 



Irritating Discharge from the Nose. A thin, watery nasal discharge, 

 which irritates the nostrils and the upper lip, should always be regarded 

 with suspicion. It may mean nothing more than a cold in the head, 

 but not infrequently indicates diphtheria. 



Evidences of Sore Throat. Evidences of sore throat, such as swelling 

 of the neck and difficulty in swallowing, are of importance. They may 

 mean nothing but tonsilitis, but are not infrequently manifestations 

 of diphtheria or scarlet fever. 



Coughs. It is very important to notice whether children are cough- 

 ing or not, and what is the character of the cough. In most cases, of 

 course, the cough merely means a simple cold or slight bronchitis. A 

 spasmodic cough, that is, a cough which occurs in paroxysms and is 



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