The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-08-07
~EynIunutjon of Bill

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Explanation of Bill
The South Carolina Medical Asso-
citation. the legally authorized guar
dams OF the public health IN South
| Carolina, desires to urge upon the o
crs, their earnest consideration OF the
bill to Provide for a System OF Medi-
cal Examination OF School Children
and Students Attending Public Schools
and Colleges Within the State. This is
| the Senate and House OF Representa-
lives last session, but unfortunately
MAS vetoed by tho Governor.
The first question that one naturally
a bill which the Medical Association
nave prepared with great care after
| scrutinizing the Laws Regulating the
Examination o Children in Various
! States of the American Union, as well
IS foreign countries, and we believe
| that taking all things into consldera-
| ION, is probably the best bill TO meet
he conditions that exist in this state
However, If any Il can suggest 4
letter bill to meet the same condl-
Ions, we wish it distinctly understood
nat We are not welded to this partlc'
| liar one. A bill was passed by both
SKIS in regard to the matter is, Wheth-
er conditions exist that warrant the
passage OF either this, or any other
Jill Ion the same subject. The condi-
| tons certainly seem to exist every
| where else, as laws have been passed
| II nearly every civilized State, making
such examinations compulsory. We
know that where these examinations
ire being conducted, as Charleston
| Columbia, ~Spartanburg, Seneca and
! other places that from 81 to ~ pei
.ent. Of the children examined are
| found to have more or less serious
defects. From data collected by the
Hook-worm corps which is operating
in practically every county in the
| State, we are convinced that the fig
ures already quoted for certain places
in the State, very much under-esti-
mates the conditions that exist in the
rural districts. We further believe
! that the death rate among the chill
dren in South Carolina, is unneces-
; sarily high, and we know with the CO.
! operation of the Executive and Legls-
lativs Departments Of the State Gov
eminent, We can materially lower the
! death rate. We are now aware OF the
fact that we have most Of the diseases
common to sub-tropical climates. Many
of these affect the growth and devel-
opmcnt of children to an alarming
degree, especially is this true OF Hook
worm disease, a most widespread dis
ease in our State. An official OF the
Health Department tells us that so
far this year, there have been treated
$500 cases among white children IN
two counties in this State. This does
not mean that these are, by any means,
all Of the cases among the white chill
dren in these two counties, nor does
it mean that this was the only defect
found in these children. Ask any
teacher of your acquaintance II there
are not quite a large proportion OF the
| children in his or her school who Tor
one or more reasons are not making
satisfactory progress. II the answer
he true, it will be yes. There is a rcaS'
on In each child's case. Such explain
atoms as sick, absent, lazy, indiffer-
ont. backward. i%nattentiVe, stupid al
find a common explanation in physi'
cal defects.
Since the State is committed to the
education Of her children let us &C
turther and see that she commits her
self to their preservation and care.
Some of the advantages we claim for
the system, We shall briefly outline be-
low:
l. 1t saves the lives Of many chill
dren by early detection OF future serl-
Gus maladies, and children suffering
from infectious and contagious dis
eases, which enables us to isolate
them SO that other children will not
become diseased.
usually not serious and are easily
cured, but if left to I'll their course,
they either j~eopardize the child's life,
or seriously impairs its development.
8. The defects most generally
found are seldom suspected even by
he most obseryant parent or skilled
physician, unless the latter examines
for them, and they r therefore, like
"a thief in the darkness" striking
when one leasts expects danger and
robbing the child OF its inherent right
TO enjoy that period of life, while If
the defects are cured, the child will
become normal and probably lead a
useful life.
4. Some of the defects are OF
such a nature that the nervous sys-
tenn becomes perverted, and when the
child grows up it may be a nervous
wreck, or may become addicted to
drugs or whiskey. A review Of the
Juvenile Criminal Courts Of Chicago,
New York and other great cities, re-
reals the information, that practically
all criminal children are the victims
OF serious physical defects. and often
when such cases ere properly treated,
such tendencies disappear md the chill
dren lead useful lives.
5. 1t is definitely settled that where
such examinations are made and the
information revealed is taken advant-