The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-08-16
MEDICAL
INSPECTION
DEFEATED
But Com. Appointed to In
vestigate and Report at
March Meeting

At the special town meeting in the
Town Hall, Saturday afternoon the
proposition to install medical inspec-
ton in the public schools in st.
Johnsbury at the beginning of the
fall term was defeated, it having
been announced that such a vote
must be taken at the annual town
, meeting. Following the vote Ar
thur r. Brooks moved that a commit
tee be appointed to investigate the
matter and report at the next annu
al town meeting. David E. Porter,
the moderator, appointed James Cos
grove, Charles w. Ruiter and Mrs.
Walter p Smith on this committee.
There were a good number of
womep at the meeting and their re-
marks were very pertinent. The
men wanted to be "shown" and Dr..
Alice E. Wakefield in particular, as
well as several other ladies', explain
ed what medical inspection had ac-
complished elsewhere and what it
might do if adopted in St. Johnsbury.
Immediately after the reading of
the call, Miss Kate Wakefield moved
that the article for medical inspec-
ton in our public schools be adopt
ed and the motion was seconded by
Mrs. George F. Cheney.
J. H. Brooks said he wanted in
formation on the subject and Lyndon
Arnold said that at recent town
meeting when he happened to beasit-
ting by the side of the late DR.. Ben
edict the subject came ur and Dr.
Benedict told him it was fraud.
E. G. Asselin remarked that he did
not see great many mothers pres
ent and he wondered if the mothers
were not interested in the health of
their children. This brought a re-
| joinder from one of the ladies pres
ent who asked if the fathers were
not as deeply interested in the health
OF their children as the mothers.
Dr.. Wakefield then took the floor
and made a strong plea for the plan.
She said Vermont had the highest
death rate among little children un-
der five years of age of any state IN
the country and that medical inspec-
lion was. now in force in $50 towns
and cities in the state. She urged the
voters present not to take the re-
sponsibility deprivino the little chill
dren of medical inspection. She be-
lieved the voters ought to get to-
gether with the school directors and
give the plan a fair Trial.
A letter was read from DR.. Genge
the public health officer, stating how
medical inspection was carried out
after which Mrs. Arthur F. Stone
said she smoke in behalf of one OF
the mothers that had a child in the
public schools and urged the passape
of the resolution. She also quoted
the statement of lady recently in
town from a western state who sald
that since medical inspection had
been adopted in their public schools
there had been no contagious dis
eases.
James Cosgrove said he was i'm
pressed with the sincerity of Dr.
Wakefield, but he came to the meet
inc with an open mind and believed
much good would be accomplished IN
discussion. He wanted to know II
medical inspection was compulsory
and the moderator informed him that
the child could not be examined II
the parents objected, except in case
of contagious diseases. Mr.. Cos
porve said he thought the proposition
was centralizng power in the hands
of the state and such nolicy if car
ried too far might lead to serious
consequences.
Edgar r. Brown made a strong
speech in favor of the plan, saying
(Conti1ued on pape three)