The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24


 None would dispute the state-
 ment that a healthy child Is likely to become q healthy adult and that a siclsly childhood is apt to lead to i'll health in later years; there can likewise be no question that the
 preservation of the health of Con-
 necticut's children will largely
 govern the welfare of t.ie states
 future citizens; and, by the same
 token, there can be no doubt of the importance of the work of the
 bureau of child hygiene of the
 state department of health, which
 annually makes greater strides
 toward the protection of the states
 children.
 Although in existence less than Q
 decade and 6 half--it was founded
 in 1919-the bureau of child hy-
 giene has made extraordinary
 progress in interesting and educat- ing the people of Connecticut Tn methods of child health preserva- ton, Most of the work has been and is being done by actual con- tact with the children and the parents through the medium Of well child conferences and summer roundups under the direction of Dr A. Elizabeth Ingraham, dlrec- | tor of the bureau. Dr lngraham for several years has been state chairman of the summer roundup
 work and of the May day program
 annually devoted to child hygiene education.
 Well Child Conferences
 The major part of the work Of the bureau of child hygiene is de- voted to the well child conferences although it's scope includes mani fold. other activities, such as the issuance of birth certificates, the supervision of. midwives, and den- | tai hygiene. The well child activi- ties began with the institution of the bureau in 1919, although not | on an organized, widespread basis until 1923. The number of well child conferences has grown from Il in 1923 to 78 in 1882.
 when 0 well child conference Is | instituted in q town, the locai
 physicians furnish the professional
 services required in examining the children, while citizens Of the town aid in the maintenance and executive management. The direc-
 tor of the bureau in organizing a conference, first secures the CO., | operation of the local health ofi- cer and then visits the doctors in alpha abetica1 order, requesting their assistance. Both have always aided with excellent cooperation. Clergymen and the heads of out standing clubs and organizations
 are solicited for cooperation ano interest. Committees of interested
 citizens are formed to help super | wise the work.
 The committees then canvass the town by districts and streets obtaining a list of all children or ore school age. A directory Of these is compiled In order to invite their parents to bring them to the conference and also for the pur- pose of later distributing literature containing valuable child health
 advice.
 | Work at the conference is wholly | educational, preventive and advis- ory. The object being to examine Ali young children in the commun-
 ity and to discover the tendencies Land defects which, if neglected, would handicap them later in life.
 The examining physicians do not attempt to remedy the defects dis- covered. Instead the defects are referred to the child'B family phy- sician- for correction. Tendencies which do not require Q physician's
 skill, but which do necessitate con
 stant attention at home. such as improper posture, breathing. etc. are explained to the parents to- gether with the proper methods or
 rectifying them.
 In order to cover the maximum amount of ground and to render inc well child service to as many communities as possible, some Of
 the conferences are held only twice a year, since this spacing has been found to reach practically all of
 tHe children in q community semi
 annually instead of a smalled pro-
 portion at closer intervals. Like
 wise. the interest of parents IS r.notJ,, tnfauaifiad when the con-