Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-01
Your Family Doctor
BY H. ADDINGTON BRUCE.
n n OST people take far too narrow view OF the
MI functions of the family doctor.

BY II. ADDINGTON BRUCE
n n OST people take far too narrow view OF the
MI functions of the family doctor.
4NA They regard him simply man trained in
the treatment bodily disease. They call on his
services only when member of the family Is man.
ifesty ILL., often they wait until illness is quite ad-
vanced before they send for him.
But the family doctor should be called on to do
much more than treat disease.
His aid should sought in the great work of pre-
venting disease conserving the family health Reg
ularly once or twice year, every member OF the
family should be thoroughly examined by him.
In this way unsupported weaknesses. perhaps even
disease in will be detected and preventive
or remedial measures may be recommended.
Also the family doctor should be consulted with
regard to matters of household hygiene.
Many of the requirements for continued health
proper ventilation drainage precautions against food
infection, ecare neglected simply because of igno-
rance of their real importance The head of every
family should make it a point obtain from his
physician all the information he give regarding
sanitary safeguards
Further still, the family doctors advice should be
asked in respect to mental well physical health
This is particularly important the younger
members of the family.
Indeed it is exaggeration to say that in the
bringing of the young there should always be close
cooperation between parent teacher and family
tor As DR.. George W. Jacoby in his informative book,
Child Training AS An Exact Science we'll says:
THE basis all pedagogic training must be the
there exist healthy mind, capable of harmonious
development Protection of the body against disease
bearing which react the psychic func-
tons the removal of existing disorder does not
belong the domain of pedagogic science, but Is part
of medicine and hygiene.
For this reason the teacher and educator cannot
repel the cooperation of the physician.
I'VE may go still further and maintain that in the
healthy children WELL the science of medicine
is necessary adjunct to pedagogy,
There be doubt that many teachers and
educators, through inadequate understanding or
knowledge of the psychology of childhood, commit
grave errors which manifest themselves in overtaxa
on excessive severity and disregard of the require
of school hygiene; and which, or later,
result in disordered development of the child.
Then too, there children who, occupying Dor
der line between health disease for the time being
do not manifest any decided deficiency and therefore
give the impression they normally developed
but wno because their slight homeopathic heritage
easily break down as a result of increased pedagogc
treatment
I'm such cases the pedagogc task of medicine is
prophyactic (preventve) one, while wherever the
psychopathc inferiority marked it must be ques-
tion remedial influence"
Clearly, there is much that the family doctor can
do which at present is doing only in exceptional
When he will begin do it more extensively de-
ponds chiefly of course, public sentiment The
sooner this inclines view here set forth the
better for the public
Copyright, 1916, by H. A Bruce)