Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-11

One-third of the working BOYS of
New York City's East Side are under.
nourished, according to the report of
study just announced by the De-
partment of Labor. This statement
is based on personal examination
OF 1000 boys and is declared by DR.
lago Galdston, who made the survey
with the assistance of other physi-
clans, TO be representative of all the
working boys of The section.
The study was made at the East
Side Continuation School, which the
boys are required to attend either
one afternoon or one morning in each
week. No boy studied was under Il
years of age and none over II. Such
an effort TO improve the physical
condition and therefore the working
ability of American boys provokes
comparison with the working lads
who figure in so many of Dickens
novels or In those of such French
writer's as Hugo and Dumas. The
usual picture of the working boy
In those works reveals him, also, as
undernourished, but with no school at
all and certainly with no paternalistic
attention on the part of authorities
to his physical welfare.
One of the principal reasons for
making the study of working boys
was TO determine to what extent the
strain of work, during an adolescent
period. Is likely to superinduce tuber-
culosis. The results of the investiga.
ton lead to the conclusion, it is stated
In the report, that the working boy is
especially liable to contract the
disease. Boys were studied because in
the growing, adolescent period it is
regarded as important for the boy to
CT
years the strain upon him is greatest
and he has the least margin of reserve
against the encroachment of disease.
From the point of view of the De-
partment of Labor the working boy
who has contracted tuberculosis or
other serious ailments will grow into
n less efficient workman in later years,
if he survives.
Long Hours for Some OF the Boys.
These boys worked relatively long
hours, ranging from 40 hours a week
for some to as much in extreme cases
as 20 hours. However, 4S-hour week
appeared to be about the average for
the 1000. Their earnings averaged
$11.50 week.
Probably less tuberculosis was found
than might be expected out of so con-
~
tests it was discovered that there were
but six active cases. Thirty-one boys
were classified as tuberculosis suspects
and 10 had chronic but inactive tuber-
culosis
The number of other defects and all
ments were quite appalling, however.
OF the 1000 working boys only 225
We're found to b normal. Six hundred
and twenty had / defect, Gas had 2,
374 had 3, 1876 had from 4 to 6. and
was set down az having no less than
10. One wonders what sort of Il job
this lad could have filled with such
multiple infirmities.
AS the East Side is known to be
New York's poorer section, being one
Of the largest tenement districts in the
world, economic pressure may be re-
garded as the principal cause of their
going to work while still unschooled.
None Of the boys examined had com
pie ed tn eighth grade. However. an
other motivating cause of special in
terest from the human and psychOlog-
ical side was determined. The height
of the BOYS was carefully measured
and thew were found to range. in stat
ure, from feet A inches to feet il
inches. Therefore, these were UNI
usually tall boys for their years. En-
barrassment at attending school in
classes in which they lowered over
their fellows, and therefore looked
older and were regarded by assmates
as stupid, was discovered to nave In.
duced many Of them to quit school and
start to work. The fact that they
were tall enough to pass muster for
Jobs which boys of their, age but. of
more normal size could not perform
also was n factor.
out of the 1000 some 220 boys were
found in such physical condltlon that
il was believed their work was 100
much for them and these cases were
followed up for special attention and
assistance in changing their work.
Defective Sight and Hearing.
Among the ailments found were dis
eases of the eye, the ear ana the
teeth Eve and ear diseases are re-
garded as specially likely to result In
serious impairment to earning ability,
az most Jobs require excellent func'
tioning of both these senses. Defec-
tive teeth are believed to lead to other
ailments. Heart disease was round IN
a large number Of cases. while defec-
tive tonsils, nasal distractions, skin
diseases, .landular diseases and ortho-
pedic defects were present among
| those examined.
The 22O boys who were found to
have serious defects, probably arising
from their working conditions, were
employed In 55 different occupations.
Most Of these were unskilled and less
than half were found to be going
| through any practical training or
serving any apprenticeship which
would prepare them for advancement
in any line of work.
The tremendous task of making the
physical examinations and taking the
Industrial histories OF these boys re-
quired IL weeks. but experts believe
that valuable inforns ton has been
obtained. Where indefinite dag