, 1934-12-30
Many Reveal Talents
Desoite Defprnities
BY DR. FlsHBEIN
Editor. Journal OF the American Medical Association
and Of Hygeia- the Health Magazine

Editor, Journal Of the American Medical ASSOCIATION.
and Of Hygeia- the Health Magazine
One Of the greatest benefactions you can make
is a contribution to the national endeavor toward
reclamation OF the physically handicapped.
In a few weeks. the nation will again join on the
birthday Of President Roosevelt IN a great effort to
raise funds for rehabilitation OF the crippled. Social
service is finding that it Is more valuable to help a
disabled person secure work suitable to his disability
than TO carry him along on charity.
The fact that a person Is physically deformed
should not depreciate from his opportunities in life.
Robert Louis Stevenson had a fragile body af-
flicted with tuberculosis, yet he contributed marvel
ousIy to letters. Sir Walter Scott was crippled from
youth by infantile paralysis. yet his name Is one
Of the greatest in English literature.
John Milton was blind. and Elizabeth Barrett
Browning. the girl whose life was dramatized in The
Barretts OF Wimpole Street." suffered from a spinal
~affliction which kept her almost permanently IN bed.
The secretary Of the Council on Pharmacy and
Chemistry Of the American Medical Association,
Prot. w. A. Puckner. carried on his work. though blind,
from the time when he was elected to this position.
Steinmetz, a poor. grossly deformed boy. became
a great scientific genius. One OF the most noted
authorities on cancer in the United States suffered
from youth with an ~unsightly deformity on the skin.
America suffers today with a great burden OF
handicapped whom, nevertheless. 1t endeavors con-
stantly to reclaim. There are $4,000 blind; $4,000
deaf and dumb; $4,000 feeble minded: 10000 epiep-
tic; 26s, 600 mentally deficient; $4,000 paupers and
dependent aged; and 100000 crippled.
Throughout the world today, famous institutions
are being developed in which those deformed or
handicapped have opportunity to take up studies
leading toward a successful career.
The great Smouse Opportunity School IN Des
Moines. left as a memorial to that city by a physi-
clan. gives vocational education under beautiful sur
r~oundings to the deafened. the crippled. and those
handicapped in other ways.
In Chicago, the Spalding and Christopher schools
take care each day of thousands OF crippled children
who are being rehabiitated both physically and
mentally.
Al the head Of all the causes Of GRIPPING of chill
dren is infantile paralysis. Thereafter come two
other diseases which are, perhaps. much more ire
quent-tuberculosis and ricketts,. For these condi-
tons. however. the extent and severity Of the Grip
pling is much less.
Following in order come accidents OF various
types. particularly such as occur in the home, with
special emphasis on accidental burns that are mu-
tilating and that result in deformities and serious
scars.
Today, most Of the bone and joint tuberculosis
that used to develop in the past is prevented 'by
proper tuberculin tests Of cattle and pasteurization
OF milk. since it was largely from tubercle baciHi
milk or infected cattle that most children we're in
fected.
However. there still are portions Of this country,
largely inhabited BY people who have not learned
the Importance OF milk control. that have a high
rate Of bone and joint tuberculosis.
Rickets can be, and Is being, prevented largely BY
use Of vitamin D in foods, and diets containing large
amounts Of calcium and phosphorus.
Unless the business men OF America have been
shell shocked into nervous impotence. there must
come a time when they Will respond to the fighting
spirit Of that old admiral who signaled, Damn the
t~orpedoesi Go ~aheadl"-Donald Richberg.
Sooner or later, statesmen everywhere will be lit
orally driven back in the direction Of economic sanity.
Secretary OF state Cordel Hull.
Outlawry OF war will lead 10 nowhere without co.,
lectiye power TO prosecute the outlaw-ProfeSSor
Howard White Of Miami University, Ohio.
Society cannot endure on the basis Of buying power
concentrated in the hands Of the few. s. Senator
Robert NJ. La Toilette.
II in the future anybody strikes al the unity Of
Yugo-Slavia. Czechoslovakia and Rumania. catas-
trophe viii surely come.-Dr. Eduard Benes, Czecho-