The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-11-19
Childhood
and Society
Wy ~. NpDINCroN URTCE
Author % '"The Riddle OF Person
atty" Psychology and
Parcnthood." etc.

Karen lNou, eve.
Compulsory medical examination
oi ah children at periodical inter
I walls during the first years of Ufe
! Is measure which J would earn
estiy advocate 3s "a real uDrd OF to.
RAY
We already have compulsory peri
odlool medical examinations of chill
dren after they begin go ro to
hool This marks social ad
vance 81 tremendous Importance
But why Wait until children reach
chooleoing age,
By thus waiting certain diseases,
mental 8nd physical have oppor
mtN fo MafDn con- many hclplr 81
Ittlo ones
Not few are slain hy these dis
eases before ever they pass thru
thc doors OF "a school others are
netd.es-iy doomed to lives of uIftr
ing. nvalidlsm and IncNc0enty
Tatr ne ease of child wi,o at
TIE age of fvo or three, Dr. under
lied thin pale anaemic easily ok
hausted
such a child Ia In condition to
contract any germ disease n az
tackled ty q germ disease frs chances
OF survival are slight
Born in "a good home. of educated
parents the danger 90 which this
child is exposed viii bc appreciated.
and medical advice VIII be- sought
Bun nor an homes are good Not
an parents are educated In inferior
homes and among ignorant parents
the chnd's undcrneuri-hed, and ken
orally unhesllhs condition may MOI
be Needed anr lt s tno LATE for pre-.
venJ}e action of any sort
+ This woH'd M longer bee the case
under the system ~ periodical eN
aminatLon- ] have ir mlnd
The examininr physician could DE-
tert ne signs of ma'nU'fition when
I fhey FIRST appeared ile could
| promptly advise the parents as to
I the course they houIa pursue
Needless to say. be would have lo
be invested with authority % on
force his recommendation Then.
N mo parents ogf ~ .eheor indifer-
ence. refused 20 act on his advice.
no could take steps 30 compel them
10 10 so
or II poverty were an obstacle.
civic ala should he rfhcominc on
che strength OF the physician ~"
port n should indeed be forth.
coming 90 che extent ~ maintain
ina -anatorums in suitable 'oca
sons f0r the uphwldinr OF children
shy sicaliy below Qar
a
Il would cost a good deal of money
But Think ~ the saving that
would 30 effected
Think ~ de millions OF dollars
now spent every ycur on hosp EDS
crowded With patents, man4 ot
whom arc patients simply heca'ise
tho seeds ~ disease were permitted
70 he sown n them in early child
hood
Think ~ mo thousands ~ people
who. victims OF unhycienic condi
lions ln childhood drag out lives ~
semi .ugslidism or ~ iucompe'ercy
( keeping them always on fhe verge
I ~ paupcrism
( Say IT Roger Lee in his
Health and Disease
Infection with tuberculosis uFu.
/ alIv occurs childhood Man
( fest tuberculosis may develop many
/ years after the Infection
Tuberculosis is only ono great eo.
cial disease. one great cause ~ 80
/ cial wastage
rr ~ t were solely 20 serve as
m aid In no prevention of iuber-
! cplosis. thru the early detection of
| fuborcular tendencies in children
the comRelsor examinations J sug-
eest ought 20 be carried into effect
Twice year every child in every
community ought 20 be seen by d
physician. BEGINNING 10 Tho nrst Six
months of life And " 40 any time
fhc physician end cauee to suspect
( tho presence NOT OF physical ii-
! health bui mental clinical psy
ohoIogis' should De- summoned "a bis
aid
Society owes This 20 an children
1 itis debr thar shoula b. met