The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-04-11
May 1, National
 Child Health Day
Sect of the Interior Dr Ray Lyman Wilbur, Announces
 Observance for All Communities

years the medical profession has dis covered more useful information con-
 cerning the causes, prevention, and treatment of disease than was accu-
 rnulated in all preceding centuries It took years before even the bes medical men realized that cure as {
 measure did not contribute perma
 nently to a healthier and happier
 state of society. Prevention begar
 to dominate the medical world only
 about twenty-five years ago.
 Striking examples of the triumph
 of prevention are the exterminatior of typhus and yellow fever from the country, and more recently. the greatly decreased mortality rates, ef- fected by means of immunization from former often fatal disease. diph- theria and typhoid, and the disfigur- ing smallpox.
 During the next fifty years as in the past half century. the emphasis I will increasingly be on prevention 1 Of course, at no period in life does prevention apply more auspiciously than with infants and preschool children.
 What May day-Child Health day | committees are doing in co-opera- tion with other organizations, such as the Parent Teacher groups, in the way of physical examinations. and | immunizations for diphtheria and smallpox, for children under school age show that we are getting at the root of the health problem in the proper way. The great value of these examinations is that if child has anything wrong physically that hn hn detected by the physician. The sooner the fault is discovered and remedied the greater the chance for long life, health, happiness, and ef- ficiency.
 "A glance at what a few repre- sentative states in various parts of the country did last year is reflected in the reports of the May day chair men. In California the chairman re- ports that 7746 medical examinations were given in 3S. counties. In Geor- gia many thousand children were not only examined, but had necessary ] corrections and immunizations dur ing the summer over $500 doses of toxin -antitoxin were sent free into the counties by the state board of health. In Massachusetts practical ly 20 per cent of all children expect ing to enter school in the fall had physical examinations, and defects to the number of 1871 were reported corrected before school started. Mich igan held 300 May day clinics with an attendance of 5000, and 300 Parent Teachers associations regis tered for the summer roundup. For ty preschool clinics were held in Minnesota. Mississippi had "A coun- ties reporting immunization pro- grams against diphtheria, typhoid, and smallpox. In New York special clinics were numerous and formed the most conspicuous feature of the states May day program. Clinics were held for examinations of pre- school children, administering toxin antitoxfn, for child guidance and mental hygiene. In Oklahoma City about 1000 children were given free physical examinations, and in Pitts burgh, Pa, nearly 2,000 infants were examined in addition to the large number of preschool children exam ined. Oregon reported preschool clinics organized in IF communi- ties.
 All this represents progress which has been made in spite oi the physical hardships the country has gone through this past year. And from all reports this years May day program will be able to record even greater accomplishments for this generation of children"