The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-14


TO the Editor of The Republican:
Replying to your request of De
eember for state ment of my views
relative to the attack of Dr. Parsons
of Sioux Falls upon the clinic and
NNtenslon work OF Professor Jones
oi the state university, | would say
that | have known Professor Jones
Tor several years. and have seen his
clinic and extension work frequently
and in my judgment. it has been most
valuable to the children of the state
Il have never known him to make
a physical examination except upon
request of properly authorized per-
son, and then only in the presence
of the parent or someone delegated
by the parent.
There has been distortion OF
the facts relative to these physical
examinations by which it has been
made to appear that a majority OF
them involved examinations of sex
organs. and that when these examin-
i ations were made, they were improp.
erly made
80 per cent of the examinations
have been of children or infants, and
| approximately 50 per cent of those
OF children above three years of age
/ have in no manner involved any eX-
! animation or necessity for any exam
nation OF sex organs. III these com
paratively few cases, the examination
has been conducted always on request
OF a parent, or in case of an adult by
his or her own request, and in the
presence of parent, a physician, OF
some mature person properly dele
gated by them
"Defects of sex organs have been
found and later remedied either by
a physician or by simple hygiene
self-treatment or parental treatment,
which removed the causes of years
of suffering and resulted in the i'm
mediate and marked betterment of
the individual, both physically and
mentally.
Many of these cases We're sent to
The Professor through the advice OF
physicians and in the larger clinics,
local physicians and dentists, and
! Professor Jones all worked harmon
| iously together.
There seems to be a widespread
ignorance of the procedure and sig
niticance and value of these educa-
tional clinics, and within the last few
lays many distorted facts and misrep-
i reservations have appeared.
I'm my judgment, DIR. Parsons
does not represent the physicians of
the state-at least, | have been as
sured by several that he does not
but is merely cats paw for small
group OF people who are opposed to
progress in any manner, including
education and scientific investigation
! or anything else not under their con
/ trol. or which they fear viii endangel
their pocketbooks.
"Bv several acts Professor Jones
has excited their anger and this at
tack is melted as result, not on the
merits of the case.
would it not be wise to inquire
from some OF the physicians educa-
tors, or parents who have been pres
ent at some of these clinics relative
to them. rather than TO accept the
statements OF those who have never
seen one OF them. or those of ignor-
ant, pr JUDGED critics who apparent
~ hllOM jUllilIlS5 VI INT "
results of them.
Jones Is Competent
CHOW a word as to the competency
of Professor Jones seems pertinent.
'Jones was trained in the Univer-
stiles of Illinois, Columbia and New
York in biology, physiology and
psychology with degrees OF A. b. NJ.
and PHI ID. as we'll as in education,
and while in New York City had ac-
cess to and training in the dissecting
rooms and hospitals. His training in
biology and physiology is probably
surpassed by but few physicians, and
if he is not competent to conduct
physical examinations at educational
clinics no person in the u. s. is.
"And by the way, educational clinics
are held in connection with practical
ly all the larger universities and in
many states.
"No one who has either seen OF
been benehted by his work is making
any objection. The DIRECTORS are a
few men who have never attended
one of the clinics and who for person
al reasons are anxious to discreGi'
Professor Jones personally and pro
fessionally.
His character and reputation are
such that he has been invited to ad
dress the national Association fol
tho Advancement of Science" the
leaders of science in the U. S. at New
York City, Dec. IS on "Diagnosti'
Tests for Educational Defects" which
is exactly the work done at the edu
cational clinic.
Backed by Teachers.
In my judgment, the teachin'
profession of the state stands square
ly behind this work. The election o
Professor Jones to the presidency o
the school Hygiene section of th
state association was without a singh
dissenting vote, and the association
as whole 400 teachers, principal
superintendent and others - Wen
/ suuarely on record in favor of tn
educational clinic, and when the dis
; torted facts and misrepresentation
which have been so widely circulate
are swept away, and the truth b'
comes known, the people of the stat