The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-03-08

Sell supporting sc VI 1cliIl4ly
financial conditions If you should de-
eide to take over these children as
your project l would like for you to
in way adopt them for their period
of treatp'@ ! anw va; visit their
homes nave all bills come to you and
really feel the responsibility of them.
| am willing to do my share, too, but
I want you to come in closer contact
with them.
Two weeks ago l returned from
Memphis, Tenn, where | attended the
Seventh International Conference for
Crippled Children. A most inspiring
meeting. The keynote of this meeting
was Where Are We Now?" Most
every State in the Union was repre-
sented and messages were read from
various countries.
This movement to hel p the crippled
child was started about 20 years ago
by Edgar F. Allen, better known as
Daddy" Allen, of Elyria, o., but the
International Conference for Crippled
Children was started seven years ago.
One thing that interested me was
that so many men were present, about
| $50 were registered and about two
CIlll 10 VI CIlcaI IlulllOCI WSIC lllNllJ bNtO
when we think of the Rotarians and
Shriners being the ones who first as
sisted with this movement it doesn't
seem strange.
One thing we must remember about
our crippled children is that they are
crippled in body, not in mind, and that
their minds must be developed. Ev-
cry non-producer or non-worker is
liability to our county and we want
to make them an asset. We spend
money and time on our blind, deaf and
| feeble minded; they are all we'll taken
care of by State appropriation, with
schools well equipped, etc. Why not
make provision for our cripples who
would also react to treatment as well
as the blind and deaf and better than
the Predetermined. 1t takes men like
you to get behind movement of this
kind to push it and see that it is
done.
Another thing brought out in this
meeting was the necessity of prevent
ing disease which cause these crippled
conditions, such as infantile paralysis
To do this we need support from the
State also Another thing necessary
| for US to do is to do more child well
fare work, teach prevention of dis
eases, yearly physical examinations,
etc. The ideal situation is one full
time health officer for every county
and one health nurse to every five
thousand persons.
We have cripples now who must
receive care. Two thousand years
ago the cripples were destroyed; five
thousand years ago they were ostra-
cized; one hundred years ago they
were endured; five hundred years ago
they were salvaged.
We are now at the place where we
must locate the cripple, see that he is
examined, that he has the proper treat
ment, is educated and is given proper
work to make him self-supporting.
Our next step is prevention and going
on to our goal, which is the eradlca-
ton of crippledom.
There are four kinds of education
we must give our children: A general
education, character education, muscle
education and emotional education.
We must see that our cripple is not
| looked upon as freak of nature by
one who is built differently. and in
time will be as we are. He does not
need sympathy in words but material
aid and proper understanding.
We have only three children that
l know of who do not attend school
because of their crippled conditions.
l heard splendid talk by Mr.. Ar
thur H. Sapp, International Rotary
President. He pointed out that the
meaning of the club was SERVICE
and they knew of no better way to
serve than to hel p the crippled child
find his proper place in the world.
This talk was given at a Rotary lun-
cheon with about eight hundred in at
tendance. Hon. Frank D. Roosevelt
gave a splendid address on why
Bother With the Crippled Child" Mr.
Roosevelt had infantile paralysis over
twenty years ago and when one sees
what has been done for him and that
his treatment and education has made
one of the finest looking men of the
country and a wonderful orator, we
really see the necessity for carrying
on.
Going back to our keynote, "Where
Are We Now" is what l am wonder
| ing. Where is Garrett county now?
To find out, I have asked Miss Mary
| E. Church, secretary of the Maryland
League for Crippled Children, to help
me make a survey of Garrett county
early next spring, before our next or
thopedic clinic, locating our handi-
capped children. By handicapped, !
mean those with speech defects. deaf,
cardiac conditions and crippled condi
lions. Then when we are ready for
our clinic this spring these cases will
be all lined up for definite diagnosis.
In closing, want to say, please
carry away this thought, Where are
we now in Garrett county in the work
for the crippled child? Are we doing
as we should? and if anyone has any
suggestions | shall be glad to hear