The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-23
OUR WELFARE, DOCTORS AIM
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ADVIs.
ING PASSAGE OF HEALTH
LAWS ADOPTED.
state Medical Association Would Have
Compulsory Medical Inspection and
Attendance upon SchoOl-Some of
the Things That Law Should REM
edy Pointed Out.

Rock Hill. April 17.-Compulsory
medical inspection Of school children
and compulsory school attendance
walking hand in hand are crying needs
or this day in South Carolina is the
opinion of the South Carolina Medi-
cal association expressed today. The
most urgent need at this time is the
passage of laws to insure these ends,
said the committee on health and pub
lie instruction in reporting to the as
sociation, and the report was adopted
as read from the committee.
The committee consists OF DR.. Will
liam Weston. chairman, Columbia: ::
DR.. S. c. Baker. Sumter: DR.. A. f.
Hines. Seneca.
The committee on public health and
instruction wss appointed at the last
meeting OF the association upon the
recommendation of DR.. j. w. Jervey,
president Of the association. The ap-
pointment came as radical change
or policy, but one that changed con-
ditions made necessary.
In reviewing the birth OF the COM
mittee the report points out that in
the child lies the hope Of the State
and nation. The future OF the child
Is not his to make. but must be de-
termined for him. AS care Is exercised
by the medical profession and the ed.
ucator the child will cause the State
to suffer or prosper. Neglect of the
child means hope for the States i'm
provement blasted.
The report continues:
We believe that while there are
many fields in which the energies and
EFFORTS OF the association might be
proftably employed, the most urgent
and ct the same time the most i'm
portant. are the passage Of such laws
Us Will insure compulsory medical in
spection Of school children and COM
pulsory school attendance"
Then followed the outlining of the
work done to obtain data bearing
upon this important work.
IL further stated that it was almost
conclusively proved that compulsory
education must to be completely ben
eficial be preceded by compulsory
>medical examination.
1t cited the affiiction of malaria and
hookworm, etc. as tending to decrease
the stamina OF the growing genera
'tion.
Concluding IL says;
Then what OF South Carolina
whose rank In the scale OF illiteracy
shocks the sensiblilt.es and Is q dis
grace to civilization?
What Of that vast rorde of toilers
In her numerous industrial plants? :?
Are they stockholders In these plants,
and are they contributing an enlieht-
ening influence to her social and po-
litical life?
Are they enjoying the best fruits
OF a splendid civilization, or are they
suffering in ignorance Of it's exist
ence?
AN occasional individual might
prosper from the misfortunes Of ig-
norance and poverty Of the masses,
but not the State.
And so your committee has deter
mined that the South Carolina Medi-
cal association can make no more
notable contribution TO the State than
by throwing it's influence and
strength towards the relief Of such
conditions. and so towards the accom-
plishment of this purpose we have
directed our Efforts.
Last summer we sent out to all
the editors Of newspapers In the state
personal appeals for their support in
relieving conditions. We also sent
them the facts and arguments for the
measures we believe would relieve
We received many assurances of sup
port.
I'VE have made numerous ad-
dresses to lay audiences. and have
found an enthusiastic response.
We have undertaken to interest
many religious and some civic organ
izations In these measures. and from
oil sources appealed to we have re-
ceived encouragement.
The matter Is now squarely be-
fore the legislature. having been pre-
sented with all the force OF which we
are capable.
"ln conclusion we desire to submit
the following recommendations for
, our considerations:
II. That this work be continued
along this line until these measures
become laws.
"2. That al soon as complete in
formation now i'm process of collec-
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