Evening star., 1938-01-21
COPELAND URGES.
HEALTH PROGRAMS.
TO CHECK CRIME.
Opens G. U. Forum Series
With Plea to Curb Pre-.
ventab|e Diseases.
"PR0BLEM CHILD" ILL,
HE TELLS AUDIENCE
Senator Lists Simple Affections
That Lead to Anti-Social Be.
havior for Life.

Declaring that 'the greatest social
problem confronting America is juve-
nile delinquency" Senator Royal 8.
Copeland of New York, in opening the
weekly Public Health Forum at
Georgetown University last night, said
it was the duty Of the schools to give
first consideration to correcting the
health defects Of the so-called prob
lem child"
Senator Copeland, who is one Of the
most widely read writers on health,
cited q formidable list Of preventable
diseases and common complaints which
he said often lead to anti-social ten.
dencies in children and constitute "a
challenge" to, school teachers and
parents.
The ill-health of the "indolent, LIST
less. surly" child who is being re-
tarded in school Is too often account
able for the development Of the young
criminals, he said, who constitute the
largest age groups among the inmates
OF the country's prison system.
Sees Saving as Reward.
II don't care how the taxes are
raised; the country will save money
by spending on health" Senator Cope
land said. THE crime bill In this
country is enormous-$50,0O ,0O0, 900 900,
1t is said. At least Is cents of eyery
dollar spent in some communities
pays for some kind Of racketeering."
DR.. John r. Cavanagh, chairman of
the forum, who presided said its chief
purpose was to bring preventable dis
eases to public attention and by 80
reducing the instances of diseases to
reduce also the cost OF medical care
list Of books on child delinouencv
the subject under discussion last night.
is offered at the Public Library, DR..
Cavanagh said. in cooperation with
the health forum.
The Very Rev. Arthur A. OLeary,
8. j.. president Of Georgetown Uni
versity. introduced Senator Copeland
to the 500 persons attending the OPEN
Ing session in CASTOR Hall, nearly all
OF them parents and school teachers.
Teacher Responsibility Urged.
Discussing the responsibility of the
schools in health problems, especially
IN communities where Official health
boards are unavailable. Senator Cope-
land said that "in the last ANALYSIS.
what is needed Is q very high stand
ard in the teaching profession and
teacher with full knowledge of health
training"
The so-called problem child" he
reminded parents and teachers, should
not be scolded, given a Ounce cap or
unwarrantedly expelled, but should be
examined at regular periods for symp-
toms Of i'll health.
In the absence Of a consulting
staff. the teacher must study and at
tempt to solve the problem of school
retardation with all its possible
causes" Senator Copeland said.
Among these causes, he mentioned
enlarged tonsils or adenoids, easily in
dlcated by mouth breathing.
These pathological conditions NAV
cause deafness, resulting in apparent
stupidity, inattention, wrong answers,
and failure to follow up class work."
he said. I'm chronic cases, there
seems to be an actual impairment
OF brain function, with decreased
mentality"
Chronic Indigestion, shown by dark
rings under the eyes, emaciation, ir-
ritability. surliness and attacks of
anger. he cited as another common
complaint Of the retarded child that
Is easily discernible "Asylums are
filled with inmates who suffer from
functional insanity. due in many cases
to injection Of the colon," he said.
Mental alteration short Of insanity
is not at all unusual in persons who
have intestinal trouble with absorp-
tion of poisons generated in the dis
eased tissues"
Glasses Remedy Health.
Defective eyesight In children, he
said. may bring on nervous disorders,
habit spasms. all remedied by prop
erly fitted glasses.
Disturbances in the thyroid, the
gland which Is a close neighbor to
the Adams Apple, may cause mental
dullness and lethargy. he explained,
whereas the ductless glands, too, have
important relationships to physical
and. indirectly to mental health.
Although America leads the world
in giving attention to defective teeth,
Senator Copeland said it is the pres
ent belief Of the medical profession
that st. Vitas' Dance, growing palms,"
arthritis and even asthma and hay
fever, as well as repeated colds, are
due to localized infections. These
infections may be the result Of bad
teeth, tonsils, the appendix or other
centers.
Referring to his knowledge Of COL
leagues at the Capitol, Senator Cope
land remarked: Senators know every.
thing in the world except how to
eat. You ought to 60 down to the
Senate restaurant and see how they
eat. They certainly need the atten-