The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-30
"a Plea for Medical Inspection of
school Children I'm South Carolina,
Report OF the Work at Seneca"

The title of my paper should really
be the Medical Inspection of
Schools for such will be the theme
for my remarks. The attitude of the
profession in this country in the past
has been one of neglect of the inter-
ests or the school child. The idea
has probably prevailed that in such
a free country parental rights should
be left untrammeled The mental
side of school life has always assum-
ed the role of first importance, the
moral occupying second place. the
physical last. These several relation
ships have been sadly disproportion-
ed to the detriment of the fullest de-
velopment Of the race. We in Amer
lea have never been slow to follow
whore others have led in progressive
learning. and oftimes have been lead
ors ourselves. This has been notably
true in certain departments of medi-
cine. and surgery. In preventive
medicine, however. we have not
sought until recent times to measure
up to the standard set by many other
nations. This has been especially the
case In regard to the medical inspec-
tion Of schools. That the medical
profession should be the first to blaze
the way in the vast wilderness Of ig.
norance which surrounds the child
from birth is clear. Pedagogues as
rule are willing to acknowledge and
follow the light but the community
at large In many instances presents
an almost insuperable barrier. The
latter can only be overcome by or
ganized effort and an aggressive pol
Icy. II is with this conviction that
present this subject for your consid-
GRAFTON. So far as / am aware medi-
cal inspection Of schools with its hy-
gienic problems had never been men,
toned in the deliberations of this
body prior to my paper setting forth
n modified plan In 1908. Subsequent
investigation reveals the apparent
fact that medical inspection had hith-
erto not been carried out anywhere
I'm the entire Southern States. Medl-
cal inspection OF schools Is not old In
any country as we reckon time in
medical language-scarce quarter
OF century. Germany claiming the
honor for leadership.
Our own country has not been en-
tirely negligent Of all effort for Bos-
ton in 1894 established a system of
medical inspection which has gone
forward until today she has possibly
the most far-reachlng system In the
world. Many other cities I'm the
North and Northwest have entered
enthusiastically upon the work since
1894. but we of the South have lag
ged behind.
South Carolina has always been In
the forefront of progress in many av-
enues of human endeavor. but to
keep her reputation untarnished in
medical progress she must look 20 the
conservation of her school interests
In all that makes for the complete
development OF her citizenship. We
hear much today about the conserva-
tion of our national resources.
The school child is the greatest as
set the nation has and as such we can
turn our attention 20 no more potent
force for the nation5s good. That
the function OF the physician should
not cease with the birth OF the child
Is conceded. that II has done so in
many instances In conclusive. and
that the oversight Of the childs en-
vironment and the child itself
through school life has been neglect
ed by the profession at large is un-
doubted. Childhood is where the
foundation should bo laid broad and
firm or else the superstructure will
fall short OF tho development which
should follow. This is the most op-
perfume moment 1 believe in which 10
launch n Statewide movement for the
hygiene of tho school child.
The great American Medical Asso-
citation after years Of patient invesu-
cation Of the American school child
completed It's mastcrly report at At
lantic city less than year ago. II
one of the greatest medical bodies i'm
the world considers the subject oc
such Importance IT bchoovcs MS To- ass
sumo a receptive attitude and be
guided hy "a similar inspiration. I re-
peat, this Is the opportunc moment
for our attention in South Carolina
has been focused ou educational mat
ters ga the last rv" years ass never be-
for. InI.nl Tho ll.l ,..nDr-I -..rrl-