The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-06-27
DRAFT DEVELOPED
DEFECTS OF HEALTH
EXAMINATIONS OF MEN FOR
MILITARY SERVICE DISCLOSED
HOW ILL THEY ARE.

MILWAUKEE-(By A. P.)-The
need of early correction of defects as
shown by the somewhat astounding
results of the draft examinations
and the nation wide interest in child
health aroused by the Children's Year
Program, are the outstanding causes
for the growing interest in child
health, DR.. Ada E. Schweitzer, of
Indianapolis, told the National Con-
ference of Social Work here today.
DR.. Schweitzer is director of the
division of Infant and Child Hygiene
of the Indiana State Board of Health.
''The number of states having di-
visions of Child Hygiene in 1918 was
eight" DR.. Schweitzer said. "By 1921
the number had increased to thirty
eight. Legislative authority for the
establishment of Child Hygiene di-
vision has been supported by appro-
priation in all except two or three
cases. In general appropriations for
this werk vary from $500 to $125, 900.
"A general purpose and plan of
work is common to all states. Each
seems to have adopted certain mini
mum standards of care for Mothers
and Children and each is trying to
educate the general public and to Sc
cure the establishment of it's stand
ards in all the communities under it's
jurisdiction. The working plan of the
older divisions, especially that of
New York State is the basis of that
of many other States.
I'm several states, the law forbids
persons affected with communicable
or hereditary disease to marry Pro-
vision for the enforcement of such
laws is for the most part inadequate
The protection of society generally
against the parenthood of the unfit
needs to be given serious intelligent
consideration. A predominence of
degenerate and feebleminded persons
in any community is by no means de-
sirable, yet unless stringent measures
are undertaken, will in some places
be inevitable. Connecticut, Colorado,
New York, and Indiana are working
along these lines.
Funds for research on Child
Health problems to be undertaken by
State Universities are being provided.
incidentally the better education OF
farmers is having a reactionary influ-
ence in rural districts. Scientific far
mers are demanding knowledge OF
child bearing and rearing.
"The outgrowth of this movement
in the establishment of general elm
les, eye clinics, vision conservation
classes, dental clinics, tonsil and ade-
mold clinics, physical education and
clinics, open air classes,
hot noon lunch, milk lunch
es, classes for retarded children and
now on the rate of intelligence tests
New York and New Jersey have un-
dertaken practically all this work.
Illinois is specializing in ortopedic
clinics for crippled childen, but in
clude many other of these institutions
i'll the larger places. California and
Ohio have done much. In Indiana,
the work is not uniformly distributed.
In all the school work, full time
nurses and physicians are needed but
mach is being done in many progress,
i've communities without such service
because of the difficulty of procuring
trained workers. South Carolina and
are sending nurses to be
trained in public health schools. The
practice of holding model health cou-
ferences is yielding most satisfactory
results, in New York, Massachusetts,
Kentucky, North Carolina, South Car
olina, California, Texas and Indiana.
Colorado through its health CEN
ters is caring also through the COM
munity group for delinquency, trli-
ancy, recreation and other things af-
'ecting the health of children. The
State has learned the secret of turn
ing over to special organizations the
work belonging TO each organization.
'sIn Louisiana, medical Lecturer
works Jointly with the Bureau of
Child Health and the Bureau of Vene-
real Diseases Texas is diveded into
i've districts with an advisory nurse
n each district.
Provisions for pure milk supply a,e
made in Rhode Island, New York and
,ther states.
The chief need is better organ zed
hild hygiene divisions in state health
having county or dis
rict units To these departments all
uestions relating to child health
should be referred.
Uniform standards of grawth and
utrition should be adopted.