The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-07
DR.. OSBORN
PREPARING TO
SUPPORT BILL
Medical Inspection Bill
Modelled After the Law.
Passed by Massachu-
sets in 1906
Doctor Says There Are 300
Children in the Schools
Who Need Glasses that
Parents Are Unable to
Buy.

I DR.. George w. Osborn, president or
the board of health, and the Trainer of
the bill pending before the general
assembly providing for the compul-
sorry medical inspection of all school
children in Connecticut, has been bus
lily engaged since the board of appor-
tionment granted the request Of the
department for an appropriation for
a clinic for children, I'm making plans
for the new departure.
Convinced through the alarming
disclosures of physical defects in
school children, of the urgent need
for medical and surgical attention,
the board of health has had in mind
for several months the Establishment
of a free clinic. The suggestion was
made to the board by Mayor Buck
ingham, taken up by the board under.
the direction of it's president, DR.. Geo.
organized board, with DR.. Osborn at
the helm, has been following up the
preliminary work.
The board of apportionment allow
ed the board of health $1,000 for the
project, and since this step has been
taken, the health authorities have
planning extensively for the prompt
establishment of the clinic. DR.. Os-
born has devoted many hours to con-
sultation with the officers Of medi-
cab and dental societies with the re-
suit that several. professional men
throughout the city have volunteered
TO aid without charge in the task Of
defects in children.
DR.. Osborn pointed out to-day that
there are three great reasons for the
of schools: the disclosure
Of unsanitary conditions in the build
ings. the detection of physical defects
among the children. and the discov
cry of the presence of contagious dis
eases among the children. The elm
ic is designed for the school children
whose parents can. i'll afford to send
them to private physicians, and whose
futures may be handicapped by a
physical barrier that timely surgery
will efface.
One of the most important of all
the results of medical inspection of
schools is the disclosure of defective
eyesight. There are about 800 chill
dren in the public schools said DR..
Osborne, whose eyes are so defective
that they need glasses very badly,
and whose parents are una BILE 30 prof.
vide them. The board of charities
does not provide glasses to needy per-
sons. IT is up to the board of health
I believe, to take some steps in that
direction. I can think of no better
way to spend part OF the appropria-
ton allowed by the board of health
for it's clinic, than to procure glasses
for these unfortunate little people.
The dentists have agreed to help as
IN the, matter of the teeth. Each
of the association has prom
sed to- take two children and remedy
heir teeth free of charge! But we
must take care of the children's eyes.
There are three important depart
nents of our clinic. One has to do
With the eye, another the ear nose
and throat. and the third with skin
diseases. In cases of accidents, the
BOARD of charities through the emer-
yency hospital can be depended upon
% care for the children. We have
planned to use a part of the top floor
IF the Police and Charities building,
,or the clinic. We believe there 1s
ample room and that with small ex-
oense we can equip the quarters sat
sfactorily.
DR.. Osborn discussed the measure
hat Representative Bent introduced
1T his request providing for the COM
,ulsory medical inspection of all
schools. 1T is modelled after the
aw passed in Massachusetts in 1906"
aid he, with certain minor changes.
Ma esachusetts was the first state. and
Boston the first city to adopt this
scheme. Outside of Massachusetts,
here are 20 cities with compulsory
medical inspection. Including Mas
there are over 100 cities
md 300 towns with compulsory in
'peCtlOn.
1.-The bill would repeal section 2251
which provides for triennial inspec-
ion of vision of the children, and pro-
tide an annual test for both vision
Ind hearing. There is no provision
or the examination of children's
hearing at present. DR.. Osborne ex-
,ects to appear at the hearing on this
dill, before the Committee on Educa-
ion at the Capitol Thursday after |
loon.. DIX C. w. Deane superinten-
lent of schools also expected to at
end, but he has not yet returned
rom his trip abroad and will not be
N time for the hearing.
DR.. Osborne is highly gratified at
he results obtained in this city under |
he medical inspection of schools. He |
ays the improvement in the condi- |
ion of the children is very marked. |
But what is lacking now is the medi- |
al and surgical and dental attention |
or such children as are of families |
Without the means to provide such |
are as the medical Inspector discov-
,rs is necessary.