The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-03
BOUDREN AGAINST
 INSPECTION BY
 HEALTH BOARD
Petition Against Appropriation of Funds
 Entered.

~>S9~-.S - @.soS
 Entered.
 Cases Where Attempts to Undress Children Have Been Made = Revolt
 Against Unclean SpatuIa.
 Major Thomas Boudren and other citizens are expected to appear before the Board of Apportionment tonight, to urge that no money be appropriated for medical inspection in the schools. Major Boudren has already lodged a petition and protest against the pro- posed inspection, with the board which reads as follows:
 'I desire to enter a, protest against the appropriation asked for by the Board of Health for purpose of inspec- ton of school children, and submit the
 '1st. Such inspection is not called for by any considerable number of our citizens.
 ''2d. The nature or character of the inspection is not defined. Owing to the diversity of opinion among the medical fraternity. if State medicine is to be imposed upon us, we would like to have a choice in the kind we are to receive. Do you desire to fur nish these gentlemen the means, and place our children under their full medical control? If not, where will the limit be applied?
 3In view of the fact that there are a number of different schools of prac- tice, which one will you provide for? We know full we'll which of these schools are seeking to get us under their control, but a large percentage of the community have no confidence in them.
 T understand they have promised your board that if you will furnish them with the amount asked for that they will eliminate the dangers of epi- denies in the schools to a large de- gree.
 ''If they are supplied with bacterio- logical appliances they will find out what kind of bugs may be lurking in the throats or blood of the children.
 3If one-half of the money called for could be used in curing these emi- nently scientific gentlemen of that very serious affection with which they all are afflicted-known as bacteria phObia the money might be well expended.
 "A few examples of the working of this system in other cities may en- tighten you somewhat on the subject.
 When the inspector was appointed
 
 first thing he did was to run his spaetula into the threats of forty differ ent children, not cleaning it once dur ing the operation! A child who was suffering ~Gefornities resulting from a former vaccination. resisted and pro- tested against such treatment, and her father took up the question and put stop to such outrages in the school.
 They promise you to improve the hygienic and sanitary condition of the schools Sand do great things in pre- venting epidemics.
 sI affirm that there are a number of plumbers in this city who are better requirements of our school houses than any of these gentlemen who are apply ing for the job.
 ''The following extract from the London Health Review for November, 1908:
 :" Exciting scenes followed the at tempt at a Bristol school yesterday to put into force the new Act for the medical inspection of the children.
 ' Several of the little ones resisted the attempts of a nurse to partially undress them, and ran out of the school and home.
 .'fSoon afterwards angry mothers arrived at the school and loudly de- to see the nurse.
 An attempt at pacification was made by one of the teachers, who pointed out that what had been done was merely following the Govern ment's instructions.
 This remark angered the crowd which had collected, and there were cries of Down with the Government!'' and We won't have our children un- dressed!'
 '' When the teachers and the nurse there was an angry move ment on the part of the crowd, and the ladies had to De escorted to a tram car. - Dispatch, September 25th, 19O8'
 Furthermore, there is no warrant in law for the expenditure of money raised by taxation in this way, nor can the Health Board in any manner inter- fere with the management of the schools without the consent of the Board of Education, and the payment of any sums from the treasury, for this purpose, can be stopped by an injunc- ton.
 Suppose that these inspectors should in their profound wisdom deem it nec- essary to vaccinate every child in our where would be the authority to prevent theme-and would any of you care to be responsible for such action--as you surely would be, be- cause without this appropriation these gentlemen will be left to attend to their own affairs and not trouble about the public's well-be- ing.
 '"Other reasons could be furnished, but I respectfully submit the above as and sufficient.
 THOMAS BOUDREN." CAN YOU BELIEVE YOUR SENSES?