The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-09
HEALTH PROTECTION
FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
DR.. Thomas L. Wright, OF Louisiana,
Urges More Careful Super.
vision.
WANTS EVERY CHILD INSPECTED
From Forty to Sixty Per Cent Found
Defective, and In Most Cases Par
ents Were Not Aware of Defect
Until Notified by Inspector.

Among inc several physicians at
tendant upon the convention of the
Southern Medical Association who oc-
cupied pulplts In the local churches
last night was DIR. Thomas F.. Wright.
or Monroe. La. who spoke in Trinity
Methodist Church on Health Protec-
tion for School Children
AFTER reviewing the great awakening
IN recent times to the danger to the
nation from disease, DIR. Wright said
that one OF the most important con-
triouting Influences that became partly
responsible for the health movement
was the discovery OF the organisms
mat produce diphtheria, tetanus, cry
sipelas typhoid fever and tuberculosis
with this discovery came the intelli-
gent study of groups of individuals
which soon centred about the school
Medical inspection of school children
followed, he said, but 1t Is still In It's
infancy. A summary of the reports OF
inspections In the various schools he
continued. shows that from 40 per cent
to so per cent Of all school children
are defective. and II Is estimated that
In not over per cent OF the defec-
tivcs Is the parent aware OF the defect
until notified by the inspector Our
experts" he said, claim that physical
defects are almost wholly Responsible
Even the disciplinary feature of the
protection Is alone enough to justify
IT,"
MANY DISEASES BEGIN
WITH INFECTED TONSILs
He said that rheumatism. organic
heart disease and pulmonary tubercu-
losis almost invariably begin with de-
fective tonsils. and that defective teeth
often threaten the life OF children. be.
al ln IN tV,fn
for the entrance of infections that in.
crease markedly the death rate
The question OF the protection of
school children" he went on. "re-
solves itself into several specific lines
OF work. The environment OF the child
must have attention; there are great
hygicnlc problems that are to be
solved-floor dressings. drinking foun-
tains. separate towels. Fairgrounds.
shade and sunshine, ventilation, heat
and light, sanitary outbuildings, and
other problems almost without limit
The individual child must have atten-
tion. He has some defect possibly easy
TO correct, yet unnoticed for years; he
has some disease. contagious or infccti-
GUS. and the other children must DO
protected. Correct the defect by hav-
Ing him go to his physician. stamp out
the disease by discovery and isolation
and save the other children. The
Of individual inspection needs no argu-
mcnt Then the school as a unit must
be protected. II is easy enough for
the school to become centre of In
fictitious and contagious diseases, and
the study OF groups OF children with
reference to the influence of environ
lnent. age. sex and heredity offers an
other line of research work leading up
to increased protection and efficiency.
GOOD HEALTH AND EDUCATION,
TWO REALLY GREAT THINGS
Among the truly great things in the
world mention here only two-good
health and education. The child must
not sacrifice the first to obtain the
second. The wise parent who bequeaths
TO his child n fortune protects the child
and the fortune by having proper
stipulations or conditions governing it's
use Let the State make its legacy
the least harmful to the child by pro-
viding "a strong. efficient protection In
his right for long life and vigorous
health.
This alarm has already gone down
the line from every health platform
and many pulpits: let the response
from every State be SO strong and
enduring that the final Capitalization
OF this, the great vital movement OF
the century. will be the proper medi-
cal protection of every child in the
nation"