Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-12-10
BABIES SCORED SCIENTIFICALLY
Meeting of Winueshiek County Medi-
cal Society on Friday Proved
Most Interesting One.

The meeting or the WinneShiek
County Medical Society held at the
court house Friday was one of the
most interesting ever held by the So
ciety. 1t was the first time in the
history of DEBORAH that babies were
scored from a scientific standpoint.
The meeting was devoted to a.
normal child. DR.. Thomas, presi-
dent, called the meeting to order
about $3.50. Already several moth
ers had arrived with their babies and
before $3.50, the appointed hour, the
small court room was well filled. 1t
was rather surprising to see the peo-
pie who were not parents, that were
interested in better babies" Many
of the teachers of the public school
were present as well as representa-
! tives from the women's clubs. 1t was
gala occasion to see so many little
fellows ranging in age from months
to six years.
! Dr. Swezey lead the discussion by
short talk on what Iowa had done
and how she was leading the nation
in this branch of science. Then as
an example he scored Herbert Hall
Thomas according to the score card
Of the American Baby Health Con-
test. Needless to say the little fell
} low stripped to the skin made pic
! ture of health and beauty.
The work was very interesting and
the talk instructive. Drs. Swezey and
Thomas continued the work of scor-
ing until darkness came on. Several
1 mothers, who had waited the whole
. afternoon were compelled to return
home without having their babies
scored; this owing to lack of time
and scarcity of physicians. Though
the doctors worked fast and inces.
sanity it was found impossible tt
score more than two babies per hour
a Below we give a list of the babies
scored and we take pleasure in stat
Il ing every one scored we'll Many de
J fects were found and shown to ap
: preciative parents.
: We trust the Baby Health Con
tests may be so arranged by som
society that it will become perma
nent factor in our town for the bet
! terment of our school children. TIL,
following babies were scored Fri
l. day at the meeting: Herbert Thorn
u as, Edward Bear, Alberta Apply, Bah.
u Lee, Mark Mcconnell, Fredericl
, Keefe, Baby Qualley, Clarissa Moel
. and Baby Gambertsfeldler. The
: average score of the babies was from
sly to 81. And when the doctor
say few babies score above 80 pc
y cent we have every reason t
believe our citizens feel proud 0
their markings.
The highest score that can be Civ
en- is 100. They are examined OF
the following and the number o
points given on each subject: Facia
and ocular expression, 10; intelli
gence, 6; tractability, 5; attention
8; imitation, 4 disposition s. head
length, width, circumference, sym
metry of head including shape and
size, 8; pupillary distance and shape
of eyes, A; shape, size and position
of ears, 3; shape and size of lips, 3;
shape and patency of nose, g. shape
and condition of jaw, hard palate,
tonsils, 81 number, shape, size and
condition of teeth, A.; height, 8;
weight, 5; circumference of chest,
3; circumference of abdomen, q;
symmetry, A; quality Of muscles,
grasp, rising, sitting, poise, walking,
running, 4 bones of skull, spine,
chest, limbs and feet, 3.