Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-13
TEN MILLION CHILDREN
ARE PARTLY DEFECTIVE.

"Ot the tOenty million school children in
this country, not te,Oer than sepentytiOe per
cent need attention for physical defects 'Ohich
are prejudiciGI to health and 1Ohich are partly
or completely remeGiG6Ie.'
This significant statement has been published by
the governments bureau of education as the testi-
mony Of DR.. Thomas D. Wood of Teachers College.
Columbia University. 1t is based upon careful In
quiry and issued in the hope thai it may stimulate
not only parents but also state and county and city
governments to a watchful and intelligent in
crest in the health of children.
DR.. Woods investigation showed that while
comparatively small percentage Of pupils are serious
ly afflicted, large majority labor under detects
which tend to their efficiency OF the twenty
million cases considered, only about one and half
per cent show organic heart diseases About i've
per cent give evidence of tuberculosis of the lungs
Five per cent have spinal curvature, flat feet or
other moderate deformity serious enough TO IN
terfere with health Over five per cent have defective
hearing"
These figures are not particularly distressing but
when we come to the matter of vision we md twenty
five per of the school children in America or nVe
million individuals have defective eyes. An eoual
number suffering from malnutrition More than
thirty per cent have enlarged tonsls adenoids or
enlarged cervical glands which need attention over
fifty per cent ten million children, have defective
teeth, which are hampering their general vigor
Every state and every community in the Union
should take this record home to itself and meet It's
responsibility No system of education that falls TO
keep due watch over the health of children can be
adequate or true to its purpose Every school IN
Georgia should have thoroughgoing system OF meul-
cal and sanitary inspection, in order that these de-
fects of the pupils may be promptly discovered ana
corrected. --E..
Such a system will increase mental as we'll pnysl-
eel vgor of the children it viii strengthen them NOR
ally and, in the long run, it will make for higher
and more useful citizenship
1t is interesting to note in this connection that
there is now before the General assembly measure
which bears directly this subject 1t is the bill by
Mr. Ellis of Tiff to establish system of statewide
sanitation One of its provisions is to the effect that
there shall be in each county officer of public
health who, as of his duties, shall examine the
pupils of his countys schools for the purpose OF
ascertaining any maladies or defects from which
they may be suffering The bill has many other COM
endable features but If it provided for this alone
it would merit the Legislatures unanimous support
Those cities that have established system OF
medical inspection for their schools furnish abundant
evidence of its practical and farreaching value The
children of rural we'll urban districts are enti
tied to this advantage and protection. 1t is gratifying
to note that Fulton county has already taken steps
along this progressive path. Every county in the
state will do we'll to follow the example.