South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-16
NJ. D FOR MEDICAL
/. EXAMINAT|O Of
SCHOOL CHILDREN
County Medical Association
Urges Progressive Step to
Safeguard Health of Com
munity.

The first step to bring South Bend
up to date In the conservation Of
health and in treatment of infectious
diseases was taken by the st. Joseph
County Medical association Tuesday
evening. If the plans Of the physi-
clans materialize this city should take
rank with the most progressive in
modern methods committee was
appointed to investigate and make a
report on the following subjects as
applied TO South Bend:
Medical inspection in city schools.
Foundation of city hospital. or ar
rangcment with present institu-
tons to care for INDECENT and
emergency cases.
Establishment of city medical lab
ratOry.
Establishment Of contagious dis
ease hospital.
The committee which will investi-
gate these subjects is composed Of
DR.. Edgar Myers Or. Charles Bosen-
bury and DR. J. b. Berteling. A re-
port will be made TO the association
in the near future.
The importance of health to the
city is believed by the association to
warrant q considerably larger eXpen-
dituTe than is allowed at present. The
appropriation To the health depart
ment is out of all proportion to its
Importance when compared TO the
amounts given other boards for their
work was the opinion expressed. As
an illustration it was pointed out that
while the board of health only re-
ceives $4,000 yearly. other depart
ments receive upwards Of $4,000.
DIR. Myers Speaks.
The action of the association fol-
lowed a paper dealing with medical
inspection in schools by DR.. Edgar
Myers DR.. Cooper also presented a
paper on the "Therapy of the Thyroid
Gland Extract"
In the discussion which followed
DR.. Myers paper the results OF the
inspection in the oliver school last
week following the discovery of diph-
liberia cases were brought out to
serve as an Illustration of the need
for regular inspection.
1t was said that a great percentage
of the pupils were revealed to be
physically defective by that eXamin-
alton. Diseases of the eyes, nose and
throat. as we'll as skin infections. are
prevalent, which. according to the
doctors could be arrested in their de-
velOpment and eradicated by intelli-
gent inspection and supervision at
stated intervals.
Such medical inspection is prac-
ticed in most progressive cities and is
possible under the Indiana law, the
doctors pointed out. The statutes
provide that the school board may
employ physicians regularly for the
purpose Of examining pupils.
Supt l.. j. Montgomery is an ad-
vOcate of medical inspection. and has
endorsed it in several addresses.
1t was also pointed out that the
city may enter into arrangements
with hospital boards whereby the in
digent cases as well as casualty cases
are cared for in the hospitals at the
expense of the city. This discussion
was raised by the recent cases in
which difficulties have arisen at hos
pitfalls over the acceptance of acct
dent victims
The hospitals contend they cannot
take patients indiscriminately with
out knowing where the payment is
TO come from. In emergency cases
where Immediate medical and surgi-
cal attention is necessary, the doc
tors point out that there should be
some guaranty by the city which
would prevent fatal delays.
Need Contagious Hospital.
The establishment of a contagious
disease hospital was brought into the
discussion when a recent case of
diphtheria which had tC be treated in
the bull pen" at the police station.
was referred to. 1t was pointed out
that there is no place where such
cases can be cared for. The isola-
tiOn hospital would be dangerous be-
cause of the likelihood of infection
and the facilities are not adequate
according to the physicians
A city medical laboratory which
would be a great agent in the pre-
ventiOn of epidemics is easily obtain
able. the discussion developed. The
| laboratory which was established
some time ago by several local physi-
| cians is now on a paying basis. Should
/ the city take over the institution II
would remain self supporting and the
/ city would have the advantage Of i'm
mediate and free tests OF cultures re-
vealing typhoid. diphtheria- tubercu-
Z L. IL 1T r-r-