AMONG CHILDREN AND OTHERS 45 



people to co-operate with him. If a thought of the 

 General Medical Council, or similar body, raises a 

 quake of fear in his mind, let the notice in the journal 

 emanate from the secretary to the municipality or 

 some such corporation. Anyhow, let his intention be 

 advertised. People will largely co-operate if they see 

 the sense and sincerity of the purpose. 



Lastly, let him inquire at the schools. Each 

 school should be visited. How many scholars are 

 there ? How many attend regularly ? How many 

 are absent during the year, and for how many days^? 

 At what time of the year are the absentees the most 

 numerous ? Remember that the masters of private 

 schools may extol the healthy condition of his pupils. 

 It is better to examine the books, if possible. Why 

 in one school are there more children absent than in 

 another ? This is the subject for his inquiry. Have 

 they had fever ? If so, what fever ? It is guaran- 

 teed that the health officer will soon learn matters 

 that he never realised before concerning the health of 

 his town. In all cases let the figures be written down, 

 and carefully kept. 



There will soon be a collection of interesting ob- 

 servations that may be correlated. The population 

 of the town is known. Inquiries have been made 

 concerning a number of persons of both sexes, of all 

 ages and degrees of life, of schoolchildren, policemen, 

 labourers, and workgirls ; and of these so many have 

 had fever of some nature or other during some period 

 of the year. Then the doctors will give him the lists 

 showing the number of sick people treated by them. 



