The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-24


AT the First Congregational church
DR.. Suttner and Prof Brode spoke. In
short DR.. Brodes address is as follows:
Wave OF Sanitation.
The question of the conservation of
the health of the community which is
now being urged in Walla Walla is
part of the general wave of sanitation
which is sweeping over the whole
country. The question of the preven-
ton of disease has always been regard
ed as very important one but there
is still much need of education to make
methods employed effective. Attention
has been turned especially toward the
public schools as possible disseminat-
ors of diseases. This has brought up
the matter of medical inspection of
school children forS the purpose of ex-
Guiding those who have contagious
diseases. This part of the work has
been carried on in most cities for
some time but this matter of contag-
tous disease exclusion is a very small
part of the work which should be UNI
dertaken in the medical inspection of
schools. The percent of exclusion for
contagious diseases ur ali kinds is only
about + per cent and one half of these
are for pediculosis Qice). The exclu-
sion Of pupils an account of contag-
Gus diseases is for the protection of
the community, but there are other de-
fects to be found in school children
which affect the school work and the
health of the individual and the future
life of the child. Many of the school
children are defective in some way.
In Chfcope, Mass, only one child in
five hundred examined had perfect
teeth and he had spinal trouble The
result was that not one pupil was re-
ported sound in health Two thirds of
the school children in New York, upon
examination, were found defective to
the extent of requiring medical treat
ment. Fully as large a per cent is to
be found in other cities.
Statistics show that from e-fourth
to one-third of the pupils in the pub
lie schools have such defective eye
sight as to require the attention of an
oculist in order that their work may
not be badly interfered with. To
show the need Of medical inspection in
such cases it may be stated that in
many of the serious cases the teachers
and the parents and even the pupils
themselves are not aware as to what
Is causing them the trouble. From
five to six per cent OF the pupils in the
public schools are defective in hearing
to such an extent as to interfere with
their work. About fifty per cent of the
pupils have defective teeth and the
condition of the health is determined
quite largely by the condition of the
teeth
There are many other defects which
Interfere seriously with the health and
future prospects of the pupil For ex-
ample. We mention enlarged tonsils.
which predisposes to disease, occur in
twenty-three per cent of the school
pupils; nasal growth in twelve per
cent; defective breathing occurs in
fourteen per cent.
Methods Employed.
The methods in those cities where
this matter has been carefully con-
sidered are to have regularly employed |
medical inspectors for the schools. /
who examine the pupils at stated times |
Tor all physical defects and who also
nave charge of the matter of excluding
pupils for contagious diseases. There
IS some question as to authority in the
matter of school inspection. The in |
spectlon for contagious diseases has
been conducted very largely by the