The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-27
Jurists Of District Have Received
Pamphlets EnItstine Their Sup
port to Crippled Chill
dren Law.
IS OF MUCH BENEFIT
Judge IL Empowered 10 Appoint
Physician to Make Examina-
ton Of Child Who 10
Crippled.

! District court judges have been sent
copies of pamphlets which explain the
statute passed by the last legislature
which Is aimed to aid crippled chill
dren or those suffering from a malady
which may be cured. Michigan has
had similar statutes since 1897, and IL
has been OF great help in that state.
The pamphlet explains the law In de-
tail:
"The general assembly recently
passed a law which the Chicago Trib-
une pronounces one Of the most i'm
portant constructive measures recent
| ly enacted. 1t Is known as the Perk-
ms bill, and its object is to aid de-
formed and crippled children. and in
addition to this, those suffering from
any malady which may probably be
remedied, and whose parents are I'M
able to provide proper treatment.
1.-The provisions of the bill may be
thus shortly summed up. Any judge
of district or superior court sitting
as a Juvenile court may, on his own
motion or on information furnished
by a probation officer, an overseer of
the poor, regularly-licensed physic-
ian, or a public school teacher, of a
child under sixteen years Of age suf-
fering with a deformity or malady
which may probably be remedied, or
der hearing on the facts in the
case, the parents and the county at
torney being notified. The Judge is
empowered to appoint local physic-
ian to examine the child and report
to him, on blanks furnished by the
state for this purpose, concerning the
condition Of the child and whether in
IT. izL- 0h-I, hat
he may be helped by proper treat
ment. If it appears to the court that
such is the case, and the parents give
their consent, the child may then be
committed to the university hospital
at Iowa City for treatment, and the
actual expenses at the hospital will
be paid by the state on the order OF
1.-The executive council. No fees are
allowed to the physicians for this
treatment. The only expense the state
will be put to will be the actual ex-
penses of caring for the child in the
university hospital. 10
Boon to Children.
"This act will prove a veritable
boon to many children in this state.
| We have at Iowa City now one of the
best medical colleges in the country.
lit is one Of twenty-five medical insti-
tutiors rated by the American Medical
association as in the "A plus class.
The medical faculty Of the university
contains some of the most eminent
specialists in the United States. many
of whom are devoting the major por-
ton of their time to clinical work
and who make money-making sec
ondary matter. By the provisions OF
this act. the services of these skillful
and conscientious specialists are made
available to every afflicted ch''d
within the borders Of this state whose
parents are not able to pay for prop
er treatment in the usual way.
las we look at 1t, one of the wisest
provisions of this bill is the one which
permits public school teachers to take
the initiative. Public school teachers
more than any other persons know the
needs OF the children Of the commun-
ity in which they work, and as rule
they know the circumstances Of the
parents as well. We hope that teach
ers everywhere will take note Of this
and If they have knowledge Of chill
dren who properly come under the
provisions of this act, that they will
bring the matter to the attention OF
the court in the county in which they
reside, and thus secure for the chill
dren the relief which the bill offers
No other service they can render will
have such lasting effect for good
THE law will be effective July first
next
IN. B.-For detailed information
regarding the law and the method OF
procedure, we suggest that teachers
communicate with DR.. l.. w. Dean, Of
the College Of Medicine of the State
University Of Iowa, at Iowa CITY,