Evening journal., 1910-03-01
HEALTH OF
SCHOOL TOTS
Prof. Spaid Tells County
School Commissioners There
is Work For Somebody
CHILDREN NOT VACCINATED;
BOYS USE TOBACCO

New Castle County Schools. before tho
County School Commission hero to-day,
told the commissioners something about
the health Of the 533i pupils attending tho
rural schools. only a small percentage
OF them are vaccinated, Professor Spaid
said. many do not use tooth brushes. some
are mentally defective, others deaf and 52i
OF 26O0 boys ranging in age from six to
hreen years use tobacco.
Professor Spaid said that In many parts
Of the country medical inspection Of school
children has brought 10 light the fact
that many children are suffering from
various physical defects which not only
tend To Keep down the average length of
life but also very greatly rotard the pro-
gross of children In their physical and
mental growth Many of these ailments Of
children are Insignificant az least many
parents think 10. or they are not discover
ed until much harm 20 the children has
resulted Many educators and physicians
believe that school children should be ex-
amlned and cared for or treated at the
expense OF the public In order TO safe
guard the health Of all children. Above
all an effort is being made to teach people
especially school children. Professor Spaid
said, to protect their health by following
out certain simple rules.
Continuing Professor spaid said:
last fall in order that the teachers and
pupils in this county should at least Kcep
up with those In other states whore these
simple rules Of health were being promu-
gated l had large placard printed and
hung IA every school room IN the county,
How to Keep Wen and Prevent Consun,-
tion, was the title. / also submitted to
the State Board Of Health a set of sani-
tary regulations for school grounds and
buildings which the Board adopted Two
OF these. though simple. are very import
ant. They are as follows No open bucket
or vessel from which school children got
water shall bo permitted In school. A
closed bucket with a faucet or cooler
with faucet shall be used.
B school children must not use a com
5 mon drinking cup, but Individual cups
{ must be used.
II am sorry to have to report that man,
districts have not complied with these i'm
: portant regulations. and / request that th
/ County Commission aid IN enforcing thos
4 sanitary regulations.
s "The FIRST Of the year requested ms
I teachers TO make a report on health
conditions among their pupils. 7 desire
10 give some Of the totals which ar,
significant 1881 pupils are involved
or this number 222 wear glasses and
the teachers are Of the opinion that
at least 1888 others need glasses. IS.
have defective hearing. This mum
ber has resulted no doubt from 1862
cases Of scarlet fever or scarlatina. 2Sa
cases Of diphtheria and 76f cases Of
tonsiiitis. The teachers also reported
13t cases Of mentally defective children.
249 pupils stuttor or have some de-
feet In speech. Some Of the chill
! dren are tongue-tied. II would seem
that many of these pupils could be
cured by the removal Of enlarged
tonsls and adonoids. The number of
those with defective hearing certainly
rould be greatly reduced and perman-
ent deafness prevented In many cases.
: "It will doubtless astonlsh you 10
b know that only 1871 children out Of the
5.331 have been vaccinated. This leaves
3,420 children I'm the county without
protection and 7 am told that this NUM-
2 Der is so large that we may have an
: epidemic Of smallpox at any time.
"The care Of the teeth Is an inn
! portant factor in the health OF chill
u dren.
J. 'If children have decayed or sore
j teeth mastication Of food win not be
Z complete digestion cannot be perfect
u and assimilation will be greatly re-
tarded. and indigestion and other dis.
eases begin. Toothache units any
child for study. yet during the idea
weather we had from September e
Christmas 531 children lost time from
/ school on account OF toothache. OF
the 5.3al pupils 2.692 have decayed
teeth. and a careful examination by q
dentist would without doubt revea
L many more cases. But $40 have hat
| teeth filed. only 1887 pupils Of tn,
5,88t own toothbrushes. This leave.
2.494 without brushes. In 65 homes
the children have a brush among them
selves, In some instances three or foui
children using the same brush. 50
Z children brush their teeth twice dag
!, and 1880 once a day. This leaves S.09
a who do not brush their teeth once
4 day. and as 2.494 are without brushes
= the neglect Of this useful and necessar,
n habit is very apparent. The German
have a saying, Healthy teeth, health,
s stomach, healthy body
"These reports from teachers revea
T. another astonishing condition amoni
f our school boys. Out of about go
boys ranging in age from six to fiftee
4 years Of age 524 use tobacco. mostly q
d the form OF cigarettes. This mean
l. that nearly 90 per cent. or one boy &
/ five already has a habit that is de
"a stroying his nervous system as nothin
Ia else does, and that he is putting a fear
full handicap upon his future success
Ia Chief Justice Fuller says: NO cigarett
" smoker can attain the highest positio
10 in the world
lg Boys Use Cigarettes.
,e "In one school Is out of q hoys us
cigarettes. Eight or nine Of these boy
n have admitted to their teacher ths
,O the village storckeeper sold them th
,e cigarettes, although every parent ha
Of the following protection under the Law
Of Delaware:
"a That from and after the passage
rs this act no person or persons shal
a within this State. sell or give to. {
" purchase or procure for. or furnish Z
w any way assist any minor. under III
age of seventeen years, in obtainin
1e cigarettes or papers specially prepare
m and intended to be used for the pul
,r pose Of making cigarettes.
n q That any person or persons violat
Inc The ,,roxrfufona of fhfo shall fr