Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-19
NO TIME TO EXAMINE
SCHOOL CHILDREN FOR
PARALYSIS SYMPTOMS
Medical Inspector Finds Plan
Impracticable and Says Prom
ised Results Would Be
Inadequate
DOCTOR CORNELL'S VIEWS

Physical examination of school children
before the opening of school will be I'M
possible i'm Philadelphia. The examna-
tons would take so long that the term
would have to be delayed more than a
month and the examinations would cost the
city more than they would be worth.
These are the opinions of Dr. Walter s.
Cornell, chief medical inspector OF the pub
lie schools, on the suggestion OF DR.. Samuel
G. Dixon, State Health Commissioner, that
tho school children be examined for symp-
toms Of infantile paralysis before they are
enrolled.
"PIans to examine the children" said
Doctor Cornell, cannot be criticized ex-
cept on the ground OF the time required
for the examinations compared with the
results possible. II would take month
and would cost $4,000.
There are 10000 children in the ele-
mentary schools. Sixty physicians, exam
lining $500 children and spending thirty
seconds in examining each one, would re-
quire a month to finish the work.
MINIMIZING CoNTAGIoN
Speaking of contagious diseases gen
orally, without reference to infantile pa
ralysis, we tried this plan in the public
schools In the fall of 1912 and abandoned
II because more than a month was con-
sumed in miscellaneous activities which
Welded little or nothing Under our pres
ent system, which includes the exclusion
from the schools of children with sore
throat, we have materially cut down the
prevalence of contagious diseases.
"Our methods combined with those OF
Doctor Cairns, have reduced the prevalence
of disease in Philadelphia so that the city
has the lowest percentage OF scarlet fever
of the ten largest cities OF the country. We
are next to lowest In prevalence of dlph-
iberia Before 1912 there were $500 cases
Of diphtheria every year. We have reduced
.A- -. - n
while the population probably has increased
a third In 1915 there were 1918 cases OF
scarlet fever and twenty -eight deaths
"In 1916 we developed and examined
27,oS3 cultures taken from the throats OF
public school children suspected Of having
disease and 1885 cultures from pupils In
the parochial schools. That Is the work
we do under our present system"
DR. A. A. Cairns. chief medical inspector
OF the health department said that he has
been making examinations OF parochial
school children for the last four years
Doctor Cairns is in charge OF ninety paro
chial schools and six private schools, with a
total enrolment Of 10000 children,
EMERGENCY AID NEEDS $4,000
An appeal for $4,000 10 care for the vic.
tins OF infantile paralysis was issued this
morning from the emergency aid com
mittee. i42s Walnut street The commit
tee reported that si4,l27.ss has been re
oelved and that with the $4,000, enough
money win be IN Its hands 70 care for III,
victims three months The COMMITTEES re
ceived slbs.i2 in the mail today Mrs
Sophie Jackson, Of the committees. hal
| charge OF the fund.
Two more deaths from the disease wer,
reported to the Board of Health this morn
ing. They are;
ooMER CARTER. years. 45o4 North Seven
Harry FAFY 8 years, s7ss North arat
/ street.
80 report had been received that the Far,
baby was suffering from the disease. witt
| the report OF its death. there were thre
new cases Of the malady. The other tw,
were:
EvELYYN KuRR. II months. 1897 Dakot
ciThEhiEE BREWSTER years. iiss Mort
Anna Kurr. 2-year-old sister OF ths baby
Evelyn, died from the disease yesterda,
| after an Illness OF one day.
The total number OF deaths now is 227
| and the total number OF cases TB4 since th
| epidemic began IN Philadslphia and vicinity