The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-11-17
DOCTORS WILL
EXAMINE PUPILS
In PaIatka High School,
animation Not Compulsory.

ess F--7-I
AT the request of the Woman's CIut
the physicians of the city have agreed
10 conduct medical inspection OF the
pupils OF Putnam High School. Prof.
Van Brunt has arranged the following
schedule with these gentlemen
DR.. Chandler, Monday, 10 a. M, one
hour; DIR. Johnson, Tuesday, 10 a. M,
one hour; DR.. Warren, Wednesday 10 q.
M, one hour; DIR. Welsh, Thursday, 10
a. M, one hour; DR.. Steen, Friday, 10 a.
M, one hour.
These inspections will be conducted
in the school building, in each case pri-
vately, and only with the full consent of
the parents and pupils themselves. 1t is
to be distinctly understood that there is
nothing compulsory about it, but, at the
same time, ii is hoped that the fullest
CO operation will be offered by every
one.
That there may be clearer under
standing of the purpose OF this examina-
ton the News publishes below excerpts
from paper on "The Medical lnSpec-
ton of Schools in Florida" read at the
meeting of the Florida Medical AsSocia-
ton, at Tallahassee, last May, by Louis
A. Bize, A. b., NJ. d., of Tampa:
Medical inspection is founded on a
recognition of the close connection
which exists between the physical and
the mental condition of the child, and
the whole process of education. II
seeks to secure ultimately for every
child, normal or defective, conditions
of life compatible with that full and eff
fective development of its organic func.
lions, its special senses and its mental
powers. The trouble OF the past seems
to have been, that in the zeal for stuff
ing the child with useful knowledge,
people forget that he was an animal be-
fore he was a man. The bulk of the
worlds work is done not by human or
even animal muscle, as il was in earlier
periods, when so many of our people
were brought up on the farm. Condi-
tions have changed-from an agricul-
tural people, we have developed into
race of jewellers in town and cities.
Man has to large extent harnesSed the
great powers of nature. He breaks his
land with the gang plow; no longer
Sows or reaps by hand; he illuminateS
his night world with cleclricity; carries
himself and his goods in elevators,
steam vessels, railroad trains, automo-
biles, etc. In fact might go on ip-
definitely to enumerate wherein brain
has taken the place OF muscle. These
changes are important to mankind, for
they involve the chief agencies that
have been responsible for the develop
ment into adults having strong vitality
and clean morals To m C e t these
changed conditions, the demand for
medical inspection of schools becomes
greater and greater
The school is the only governmental
department that directly assumes con
troll of chldren's lives. Such control is
maintained, roughly speaking, during
the critical years of from seven TO four
teen, and provides usually for their edu-
cation only.
This is necessary as matter OF sell
protection, but the State must also take
cognizance of their physical welfare, for
the same reason. Education and health
go hand in hand, sound mind in
sound body.
1t would be better TO sacrifice the ed
ucation if, in order 10 attain ii, the child
must lay down his good health.
A clear distinction must be made be-
tween medical inspection solely for the
detection of communicable diseases, and
that physical examination, which aims
to determine the physical condition and
to discover defects aad diseases.
Medical inspection for the detection
OF contagious diseases can only be per
formed by the department OF health, be-
cause of the necessity OF legal authority;
but TO be effective, cooperation with
the board of educators is absolutely
necessary.
In New York, in a single year, fifteen
thousand children were found to be
suffering from contagious eye disease,
and Sixty-fivc thousand other children
were excluded from school for various
periods, because they were found TO be
actual Sources Of infection OF various
maladies, ranging from whooping cough
TO diptheria.
The specialist comes in frequent con
tact with contagious eye diseases,
which a teacher with some instruction
on the subject would recognize as SuS-
picious. These cases seldom come in
contact with the health authorities, and
this is so with many of the other milder
contagious diseases which sometimes
produce death.
The school is recognized as perman-
ent and possible focus and distributor OF
contagious diseases, hence needs per
manent and thorough medical inSpec-
ton.
Public schools are public trust. and
when the parent delivers the child to
their care, he has right 10 insist that
the child under their supervision shall
be safe from harm, and shall at least be
handed back 10 him in as good condi-
lion as when received.
The average school boerd, if asked
why it had not already established med
ical inspection, would in most cases
give as a reason: 1--WE cannot afford
it," Experience has shown that an in
Spection not only TO bar contagious dis
eases, but also to detect physical defects
in the individual, can be made for about
fifty cents per year for each pupil. In
every city there are hundreds OF pupils
who take nine years time TO complete
six years work; each of them costs one
third more to be graduated than nor
NAL child. Medical inspection would
prevent a large part of this delinquency,
and TO the same extent save money 10
the board of education. This saving