The Glenwood post., 1918-02-23
FARMERS MORE CAREFUL OF
LIVESTOCK THAN CHILDREN


healthy country boy. That is one of
the interesting conclusions drawn from
the records of the selective draft. A
special comparison made by the provost
marshal generals office between ten
large cities and ten rural counties in
various parts Of the country shows that
2s.47 per cent of the city boys examined
were rejected, and Of the country boys
27.96 were found unfit to serve.
A short time ago Dr. ]. A. Nydegger,
in charge of the United States public
health service in Baltimore, pointed out
that the percentage of young men re-
jected as unfit for military service be-
cause of physical defects had been con-
siderably greater among men from rural
districts than among city residents.
DR.. J. A. Hofheimer of local exemp-
tion board No. ITO was the first New
York physician to make an exhaustive
analysis Of the physical condition of
the young men called by the draft in
his district, section of Harlem typical
of new York conditions. He told the
Evening World that of the $50 young
New Workers examined by his board
only 90 per cent were found physically
disqualified to serve in the national
army. According to DR.. Hofheimer,
that is ga splendid record" and it is
considerably better than the percentage.
of rural reflections just given out.
"The country lad," says the report
of Provost General Crowder, "accus-
toned to hard physical labor, may be
more muscular than his city cousin, but
he is not superior in the possession of
the degree of physical soundness essen
tion' to his acceptance as a soldier.''
'"1 am only surprised that the healti.
superiority of the city boy over .he
country boy is not more overwhelming
ly emphasized in the figures you have
shown me,' Dr. Thomas D. Wood, pro-
fessor of physical education at Colum-
bia university, told me yesterday. I
was discussing the subject with DR..
Wood, because he is nationally known
health authority and has conducted an
important survey for joint committee
Of the National Education association
and the American Medical association
on the comparative physical condition
Of the young ir the city and in the
country.
"The bad showing made by country
youths in the draft examinations.
continued DR.. Wood, "simply illustrates
anew the trnis,n that 'the child is faith
or to ths man. We have not been Civ
ing, we are not giving today to children
in our rnral communities the care and
protection they should receive.
tour soldiers and the soldiers Of the
allies are ENJOYING better health Iro-
lection than the children of rural Ame-
lea. The Red Cross is sending tr'v-
cling hoa'th exhibit through devastated
France and Relgium to teach proper
care Of children. Such an exhibit is
needed quite as badly in undevast ted
rural New Yorf.
~ don't mean,' DR.. Wood added
quickly, "that 1t is not most important
to guard the health Of our soldiers and
Of the little ones in France. But slso,
II seems to me, we should protect our
own ehildrn. Why, have prepared =
SERIES Ct more than fifty health Charts
for tho M tional Education association
and the American Medical association,
and for the six months we have not
been sbie TO And anybody willing to
uadervrite the printing Of these charts,
although 1000 can be issued for &s, ,oOo,
! and the sale Of 800 sets would pay the
cost Of the entire edition."
"But Why are country boys In worse
shape physieally than city youngsters 80
] asked, DR.. wosd.
"The. saswer to that question is indi-
ested In . letter I received from. DR..
Nydeseer," he replied. "1n, explaining
his statement that moro men from fu-
sal districts than from cities are fs-
3seted for military service, he says.I
"Ws do know, however, that bad
health conditions n rural school chill.
drsn run from Y Per cent all the way
up to 20 per cent higher than in city
school children.
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