The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-08-27
ARE THEY READY !?

ARE 11E fV4IADI
| If your small son or daughter is
going tor enter school this fan, don't
wait till Mary comes home from
school with headache or Johnny
has, a toothache to find out that one
of them has eyes that need attention
or unhealthy tonsils, and the other
has decayed teeth. Take them to
+your doctor, have them looked over
Just as you would have your auto
mobile inspected If you were going to-
start on long trip-and follow your
doctors advice as to whatever attea-
tion is needed. Take them to the
dentist, or if necessary to the throat
or eye specialist. AS there are only
few days remaining before the
schools open, you'd better take them
today, is the advice of DR.. j. H. M.
Knox, .Jr., Chief of the State Bureau
of Child Hygine.
Every child looks forward to the
beginning of school life with mingled
feelings of dread and pleasure,
DR.. Knox said. Parents realize, too,
that when their small son or daugh-
ter reaches school age, an important
period in the child's life has begun.
The success or failure in after years
depends great deal on how the
child makes use of the educational
opportunities that are offered. He
has every chance to make good at
school if he is well and fit. He is al
ways handicapped if he is not well.
And the time to find out about his
physical condition is before he starts
to school,
From the examinations of the
prospective first-graders that the
Bureau has been making through
out the counties during the summer,
and in connection with which over
thirty-fve hundred children have
been carefully gone oyer, it is evident
that many children throughout the
State will enter school at definite
disadvantage as compared with their
healthier comrades Some have
greatly enlarged tonsils and adenoid
growths in their throats, which
partly obstruct the passage of air,
making them more susceptible to
colds and bronchitis.
"Others are underweight for their
age and height. Children in this
condition often drag along at the
rear of the procession of school
children. Many have decayed teeth
and accordingly cannot masticate
their food properly. They are likely
to have a poor appetite and until the
condition is corrected they cannot
thrive.
STOPPED posture. is not uncommon
even among small children and is
another symptom that the child is
under par. 1t is not uncommon,
either, to find defects of vision or i'm
paired hearing among young child
rem, defects which should not be al
lowed to go uncorrected, as SO often
is done, on the theory that children
will outgrow them. The ounce of
prevention at this stage of the child s
life may save a great deal of suffer
| ing later on. Certainly much of a
child's progress during the whole of
his school life depends on the nor
NAL functioning Of his eyes and ears.
1.-THE responsibility rests with the
parents. Every child should be
taken to the family doctor before he
is enrolled in school and the follow
ing questions should be asked;-
81. Is my child up to the stand
ard in weight and height for his age?
"2. Are his tonsils or adenoid en-
larged or infected so as to be dan
gerous?
So. Are his teeth in good CON
dition?
"a. Are his vision and hearing
normal?
"5. Is his posture correct? Does
he stand and sit and walk correctly?
Sc. Is the food my child eats,
proper in kind and in amount?
UNLESS the doctor assures you
that these questions can be answered
satisfactorily your child is beginning
his educational career handicapped.
If you were planning long automo-
bile trip you would have your car put
in good order. Should you not be
equally careful of your child before
he begins his long educational
journey?"