The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-11-10
Plan to Combat Physical De-
teriOratiOn Offered by
Pittsburgh Physician
WOULD BEGIN IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Nation Wide Health Service Is Suggest
ed to Halt Diseases Among Children
Country a Marvel of Inefficiency at
Present.

NEW YORK. Nov. ia plan to
combat the physical deterioration
shown by the large number Of rclec-
tions by army and navy physicians
through universal system of medical
examinations and health charts under
Federal direction was outlined by Dr.
Charles \. Laufer eff Pittsburg at a
conference Of physicians for many OF
the large industries Of this country held
at the Hotel Astor.
DR.. Lauffcr assumed that universal
military service would be adopted, and
proposed that the examination of the
recruit ON his entrance should be fol-
lowed mp annually fer all men between |
the ages Of IS and 80 years. Radical |
measures were necessary, he asserted, |
to counteraet the tendency toward in
fcrioritv in health and physique. and |
the most thorough and practical method
| of improving national health and
strength, he said, was to make the care
of health Of the individual one of the
/ l.
| DIR. Lautfer urged also that some such
plan was necessary to place on a sound
| basis the systems of industrial insur-
ance which have been adopted by sev-
cral States, and to lay the foundation
for further insurance and pension legis
latiOn on principles that would be fair
both 70 employer and cmploye. He
lsaid.
..Cbildren bavc boaltb service
through the public schools. Bv extend
mo- this Ia men of industrial and Mill.
tarv ace we would make II only = mat
fer of time when similar .aood baa,.h :,
service would he afforded 10 women
and mood man ~ tba ,raa+ banatit of
,tbe individual ~ Won rs ia tbe 900
luonIir battarn,apt ~ +ha I-,,i+al s+o+n.
..Tbe +rf+b about cvistina ,,bvsical
defects win a. ir.rs =, ono 7.,i.r,- nnn
: has or a..auires certain rbvsi.aI ~
| lfc,t. Tho CARLY detection of ,pbrrr,
| Hosts and Of many other diseases leads
| 10 their more successful treatment
| .sFpdaf.l .ast,3 .haatth' .,r,-;.. .,,,,
| uhasizina diagnasis eor1a recommend
| land enforce remedial measures ip i'm.
i ciuicnt staee~ aF ~8rb defects ANA dis
| cases. An annual rr-cxaminatiou vauld
/ constitute "a splendid folIow-up system
H Ito ascertain If recommendations had
II haru cbryed and - t.r.yeo- f,,+t..,
II NEGLECT.
II d" Nation wide federal health ,ar-i...
H being diaano-tir. would nor raoAi.-
II with existing agencies for the treatment
II OF medical and surgical cases. and
II would not autaoonize practitioners Of
Ill medicine, sauatoria. and hospit9Is
II 'Thousands of phvsicians could l.,
II ladded to the federal service and tbou
II sands more educated for it. The pro
II tcctors of national health would requir,
II special training. and the expensp il ms
II tifable ON the same grounds If mill,
II lpolicv. some men are rudely ,ururiSro
II 10y unexpected findings Of life ipsur
II lance examinations. Federal health
II charts. providing an annual rp-examina
II tion. would give assurance ia thc ti,ni,
II who are physically sound. but do no
II know it. and would mStiI caution il
II the careless. who are living riotouslv
II rccklesslv sauandefiug their r.hvSic9
II resources.
II at would furnish reliable ouid,
II for the individual rs ia the corrr,+io,
II lof existina defects and assist him !,
II lobtaiuiug the rpnlaxnpn+ for ,vbiaI
II he i, best fitted should he have dc
Il fects that cannot be ramcdied
II Comprehensive federal health scr,-
= ice. bv Safeouarlino the health az tb
: bread winner, promises much in redpc
:: inc the problems Of dencndeuce nm,
1: ldegtftution. Tho poyer+v that ona1lt
] land s1bmeraes 50 many indns4rinu
|: workers often result, from Martial in,a
! lIidiym and can be best annraarhrd an,
/: relieved by adeama+o baaith service
! s.Tba yarioul oovernmnntal unit,
/; conducting hospitals sanarnrto home
|. for the feeble and dcpanden+s vnnI
I he benefited bv federal health sery
II lice that would issue health charts nm,
ri wauId ro.operata with an o,,ietino 70,
|: IutabIe local agencies and moro "a i