The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-07-18
1rcs1Ar. SERVICE OF TIE WHEELING 1ErETLIGEHcER
SERVICE OF
The HEALTH OF OUR Ct||L DREN
WARNINGS from Examinations of Drafted and Volunteers
CITY and Rural Conditions Compared.
By DR. MACMILLAN P. E. GROSzMANN,
\,,D t,iuca,or Author Of THE Exceptional Child Etc

, Naturally. h"l,h and fitness for ser
vic" depend not merely "n physical "x"r-
riS" III youth AMI childhood. There arc
other factors There ar" tn" water
supply and the food supply. IL IS no
l"ri"iiS that tho water supply IN the
country * i'll regulated. and that cities
with their Wonderfully dcv"i"t'''! SyS-
toms ar" far superior. rs n rule, I" IN"
"flrn contaminated wells and springs
Of the country.
Again. Ia" farmer sends his choicest
rruuuri$ 10 The market. and kc"pS The
cheaper grnllrs for his and his family's
own consumption. THIS. with The
$hIftl"Ss ways o. many ruralS In ir'
preparation "l food. hanGi'arN thild'"h
rrolu tn" start. 1t has '-'"n found
,nn, ,h.. prrcculagr 81 physically dcfrc-
,Iy" rural children - Illl" large. and
tina: they suffr- from many diseases VI
ihc nrS,. throat teeth md eyes. These
I,HrticarS ar. not uftScI as they ar" IN
Iu:iny cities hy u Sys'"m of medical IN
&ImrIi"n auh handy hospital and dis
I",nSary rclI"f
On the other hand. tn" drift nt IN"
rurnl population I" the metropolitan
: rrrI,.rS ami tho factories has produced
= cni."$; ON rhrr" which Is 4 distinct
handicap for Lit.: Lrh"u dw"ll"TS. TEN
mont and slIIIm cunii'l"IlS "" the result l.
together with economic pressure II
has been found that Tn" mortality az
y,un. children is in very clear inverse
relation /" the wages Of III" iathcr' or
, Tho wIsr-..arncr If III" family: the low
,r the wage the larger - infant NOR
,.IIiy Thrrc is i.ii."d Il rnncpmiiant
,,us,.. The punrrr classes have larger
number Of children per family than the
Ht.ll- do hold lliN'
birth rate down.
These conditions Of congestion and
economic pressure offset in measure
the advanIu+;" OF present city condi-
lions for healthy child-lifc over those OF
the country IN its present aspect II
il we're not for them. the figures cited
before would hc much NOR" III favor OF
,, the city jewellers. They are MADE
worse hy the great influx. in the cities
of an Immigrant population 81 ShIltI7S
and urimitiv. Inf" habits which are
much III variance with the American
way Of living. Many OF the renirrS "i
Immigrant life. rs "Nempiti"d an ne
! East Side Of New York. lc"In win ais
ease germs and other dISras" Nrodnr'nS
causes. No wonder that Individuals re-
rruitrd from such districts are found
I deficient III the physical stamina IT,
uuirrd for Ac;ir" service
Parents school authorities and health
nralrIs, have vast urid "i activity
laid out for them. /" lmpr"H" Inc CON
dit ,lis -. uur growing children, IN city
and cnuntry \ recent national CON
v..,iiuu OF teachers decided |" petition
Congress- Ia authorize and enable inc
national bureau of education Ia lnaEu-
rnrC measures, which Will further inc
ctuS. Of physical education IN all
schools OF thr country But. OF course.
, The other fnctors mentioned must not he
iny.rlool;cd IN securing for orr chiklTn
the very lest Chtnccs "r ~ hca''nlui
urrparlt ton for lifcS struggle.