MILK SURVEY OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER 43 



of school children were iriade by the public health nurses working under 

 his direction. In the report published by Dr. Brown, entitled "The Seattle 

 Way of Caring for School Children," he states : 



"My experience teaches me that unless a child get a good supply of 

 milk until at least fifteen years of age, it will not develop properly. 

 There may be no surface indications of weakness. But its system will 

 lack that vitality that only Nature's Food, Milk, can give and it will 

 readily fall a prey to diseases that a milk fed child will resist easily. I 

 am speaking not only from my experience of many years in this school 

 work but also as a father and now as a grandfather. 



"The city is organized in districts, a school nurse is in charge of each 

 district. The size of the district and the number of children under the 

 supervision of one nurse, is carefully arranged so that each and every 

 one may receive the requisite attention." 



Dr. Brown says further: 



"When a child just starting to school has his first examination a card is made 

 out for it. Its physical characteristics are tabulated. If any operations or any 

 forms of medical treatment are seen to be necessary a notation to this effect is 

 made and notations are also made as to the carrying out of the operations or treat- 

 ment that has been specified." 



"It was particularly noticed that many of the children received little or no milk. 

 The parents were advised by the nurses to give each of their growing children a 

 pint a day as the least amount sufficient for healthy development. Many of them 

 could not, or imagined that they could not, afford it." 



"So Dr. Brown outlined to the School Board the proposal of supplying milk 

 at school to those children who were known to need it. The Board was sym- 

 pathetic, but Dr. Brown's proposal was a voyage on an unknown sea. 'What is going 

 to be the cost? Where are we going to arrive?' they asked." 



" 'I don't know,' replied Dr. Brown, 'but I am sure it will be some good place !' " 



So they gave him authority to spend up to $500 per month. Shortly 

 after they removed all restrictions and told him to "go the limit." He 

 has been "going the limit" ever since and the sequel is to follow. 



He obtains on contract a supply of high-grade pasteurized milk put 

 up in half -pint bottles. All children, well-to-do and poor alike, obtain it 

 at school on the presentation of milk checks. The well-to-do buy their 

 checks. The children of the poor are supplied by the nurse in charge of 

 the district, who is familiar with the conditions in each home. Thus no 

 child is shown to be an object of charity and exposed to possible ridicule 

 by other more fortunate children. 



The business end of the daily supply is handled by committees of the 

 children themselves. The room committee takes the order of each child 

 in the room for the following day. It then phones the order for the total 

 amount required, to the Central Office. 



