Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-06
DR.. SAMUEL MccLiNToCk HAMiLl
On Child Hygiene

OU SUHo Vy8'cHc
TUST as stitch in time may save nine. ,
y so proper training of child, and, still
more important. of the child's mother, Will
in tmQ lead to far better degree Of health
for the Nation as whole, according to DR..
Samuel McClintock Hamill. chairman Of the
Medical Committee of the Child Federation
and one of the most widely known authori-
ties in the United States on child hygiene
in all its phases. especially that of nutrition.
THE Child Federation is really com
mittee of citizens who have banded together
in an effort to improve the health of the
coming generation of Americans. he said;
1T was this committee which established
the first health center in Philadelphia, and
it's value was sufficiently demonstrated>to to the
Department of Public Health for that de-
partment to take it over and conduct 1t ever
since with much success. The real purpose
of the health center is not the cure OF the
sick, but to build up and maintain the health
possible, through the children the health of
those adults with whom the children come
into constant contact.
The Use OF the Clinics
The clinics conducted by the Child Fed
Grafton are for those presumably well, ana
It's purpose is to give advice and instruction
to the mothers as to how best to keep the
children well.
'"rhe federation first took II district, then
subdvided each block in that district and
made what really amounted to census in
order to determine just what its problem
was in that particular division. The number
of adult residents was taken as well as the
number Of children, and this told us just
what We had to supervise.
AT the beginning of the work we took up
the health of all children. especially that Of
the infants, and all mothers having small
children were invited to bring them to the
clinic ut the health center, where the little
ones were examined by physicians to deter
mine whether or not they were normal, es-
pecially in regard to their nutrition.
Method of Procedure
If upon examination it was found that
the child was acutely i'll. the case was re-
ferred Immediately to the family physician,
if they had one, or, If not, to hospital for
treatment. In cases of under -nOurishment
the health center made an attempt to build
up the nutrition by seeing TO it that the
child was properly fed and had the proper
amount of rest and fresh air
I'm all the work Of the federation the
educational idea comes first 1t was sought
to teach the mothers the value of health to
| their children. This was done by giving
I them the advice of physicians and was fol :
| lowed up in the homes by nurses employed
| by the federation.
but there IL one important factor which
| does not seem to be appreciated by the public
| at large. lHlS Is tHHt WITH IneTe IL an
attempt to maintain the health Of the child
| the problem becomes the problem of the
| family Thus, IL the mother is i'll herself
the child or the children must be looked after
II the father, the wage Garner, is i'll or
| partly ill., part of the problem is to see that
he has medical supervision. Whatever nf
fects one member of family in the matter
of health affects them all.
The Other Children
The same is true as well of the other
| children in q family, for an outlay for i'll
ness for any member results in smaller
budget for the whole family, and thus tn,
loss Of health for one, even temporarily be
comes the problem of the rest as we'll But
our investigation did not end with the find
ing of the health conditions of family Th,
house as well was investigated from Il sani
tary standpoint, and where insanitary con
ditions were found every effort was made tC
have them corrected. This was done by th,
federation for period of two or three wears
at the end Of which time the health cente,
was turned over to the Health Department.
THE object which the Child Federation
has constantly in view is that 1t Is yer,
much more important to maintain health il
those apparently well than to neglect thos,
in health and devote attention solely to tn,
care of the sick This is more importan
and more rational also from the economi,
standpoint, as II thus prevents illness
Other Cities Following
Our program is now attracting grea
deal of attention throughout the country nm,
many other cities are now doing likewise
In brief, We are trying to persuade the peo
pie of the Importance Of a city wide cam
DRign for the maintenance of health
tkMt Is one Of the most difficult of, all pro
EnY, VITO nut across, for W. have found tbn
iYsentiora.. iYnaorss ally Impossible 10 make pconi
lsnss. ,lue Of the Improvement q
!.