New Britain herald., 1930-08-19
DR. DUMONT WRITES 0N PUPILS HEALTH
Urges Safeguards Before Chil.
 dren Return to School

The importance of preparing a
 child physically for the opening of
 school, including treatment of ton
 sils. adenoids and teeth. vaccination
 and immunization against diph-
 theria, is discussed by Dr. l.. J. Du- |. mont, superintendent of health. in d
 statement issued by him today.
 pr. Dumont writes:-
 Now that school days are ahead,
 good health days must also be ahead.
 lake inventory of your child's phy-
 s1cal state. And this applies to the
 youngster who is returning to school
 after his vacation, as well as to the
 one who IS entering school for the
 first time.
 The board of health is urging parents 10 take school children to the family physician for thorough physlcal examination. A physical ex- animation may reveal the presence or certain physical defects that need correction and that are, all unknow- ingly, hndering the child's mental
 PiiJSiNoi plOSitSs. Ic llOTS common of such defects are neglect ed teeth. diseased or enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and poor eyesight. Other defects that may be revealed are defective hearing, malnutrition. cardiac disease. and nervous diseases. You must be most careful Of the teeth of your children. Noth- Ing will so quickly or so surely in jure the physical and mental health of the child as neglected teeth. A famous physician has said that over so per cent of all diseases are di- rectly traceable to mouth and teeth Teach your child 10 brush his teeth properly twice a day. morning. after breakfast, and before going to bed. Very often there are little holes in the tooth that you cannot see. The dentist can only'find these tiny holes with very fine pointed instruments. It IS in these tiny openings that de- cay starts. Baby teeth are important. They should be well taken care Of. If your child's medical examination reveals bad teeth, do not delay in having them attended to by your family dentist.
 Enlarged and diseased tonsils and adenoids are two other import ant health hindranCes. Tonsils may become enlarged. stick out into the throat and interfere with breathing. Germs from diseased tonsils may travel to other parts of the body and be responsible for serious illness. , The adenods stop up the nose and force the child 10 breathe through the mouth. That provides an open ! doorway through which dust and | many germs can enter the threat | and lungs. Adenoids and diseased . tonsils should be removed Enlarged | and diseased tonsils and adenoids ! are often responsible for large glands, for earache. for rheumatism, and heart disease. They make a child more susceptible 10 diphtheria, scarlet fever, and other communic- able diseases. If your child seems backward, if he does not learn rapidly, do not blame the youngster. child with diseased tonsils or ade- holds cannot be expected to be as alert as a child in good health. Nor 2an the one whose eyesight is poor be expected to make the grade as easily. Do not neglect your child's eyes.
 Before you enroll your boy or girl in school be sure that your child s vaccinated. Every child should be 'accinated before he is one year ol. md again in early school days. There s another safeguard that you should 'estow upon your child, if you have ,ot already done so. That is the oxin- -antitoxin immunization against , 'iphtheria. Diphtheria steals the health and lives of children, and it trikes particularly at those between