Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

24
THE CHARLOTTE MEDICAL JOURNAL.
know it was a result of transgression of iia- art of healinc;, or curinij the people, whether
ture's laws. thev be Homeopath, Osteopath, Eclectic,
There should be a law demanding that Christian Scientist, Allopath, they should be
Medical Examiners be elected to the schools made by law to pass examinations showing
in North Carolina. Other States and that they are well grounded in the fundamany
towns and cities have real- mental principles of medicine, anatomy,
ized the importance of this and have seen physiology, and pathology, before they are
good results from it. In the United States, allowed to practice. For unto all come the
Boston seems to be entitled to the credit of ill and diseased, and they should know
establishing the first regular system of Medi- enough to diagnose the case before treating
cal Inspection of Schools. This was done it. I hold that no man can diagnose and
in 1894. Forty physicians were elected by treat any case intelligently until he first
the Board of Health to inspect the public knows the anatomy—second, the normal
schools of Boston. In 189.5 nine such in- functions of the body—third, what pathospectors
were ajipointed in Chicago'. In logical changes are to be looked for.
1894 the Board of Health of Xew York A law to compel all practitioners, no matelected
134 Medical Inspectors for the pub- ter whether they give drugs or not, to
lie schools. In 1898 the Bureau of Health pass examination showing that they
of Philadelphia passed a resolution direct- knowledge of the fundamental branches
ing that each of the fifteen Assistant Medi- would protect the people. Then the Osteocal
Inspectors should visit one public school path would know enough to send a case of
in his district each day, inspecting it ac- suppurative appenditicis to a surgeon, and
cording to the methods employed in Boston, not undertake to remove the cause by ma-
Xew York and Chicago. uipulation, and by so doing, in all possibil-
Only four general state laws providing ity, rupture the mass and let the patient die
for or allowing medical inspection of of peritonitis all because of his ignorance,
schools have been passed. In Connecticutt Or the Christian Scientist who suggests to
in 1899 the Legislature passed a law pro- the poor anaemic, who is languid, has little
viding for the testing of eyesight in all the strength for daily tasks, bad digestion, etc.,
public schools of the State. New Jersey that he is not sick, but that he only thinks
has a law authorizing the Board of Educa- so. It is all imagination. When if they
tion to employ medical inspection of schools were examined by an intelligent diaguosand
defining their duties. \'ermont has a tician would probably find early signs of
law since 1904, requiring an annual exam- tuberculosis. Then if he was honest would
ination of eyes, ears and throats of school warn his patient that this was the time to
children. In 1906, Massachusetts passed a make the fight, and by so doing he would
law which is comprehensive in its provis- add years, if not a complete recovery to the
ions, and mandatory throughout the State, patient, instead of chaining hiln by his dethe
only mandatory law of its kind in the ception to await a slow, loathsome disease
country. It requires every town and city that will number the patient among its
to establish and maintain a system of medi- many victims, slowly but surely.
cal inspection by competent phy.sicians for There are signs of awakening in North
the detection of contagious diseases in the Carolina which will cryslalize with efficient
schools. Examinations must be made an- organized efforts under State direction and
nually by the Inspector of all the pupils for control. This is shown in many ways too
physical defects, and their eyesight and numerous for me to deal with in so short a
hearing tested every year. There is, so far time. Suffice it to mention two or three of
as can be ascertained, some form of medi- the most important events in the line of
cal inspection in vogue at present in sev- progress.
enty cities in the United States outside of The Legislature of 1909, this year, ap-
Massachusetts. But the United States is propriated thirty thousand dollars for the
still behind Germany, and a number of for- permanent improvement of the State Sanaeign
countries in this important movement, torium for Tuberculosis, and also increased
The educated physician, let him special- the annual maintainance. This makes in
ize in whatsoever line he may, has it in his all, given to this Institution, in the neighpower
to protect the families, and the people borhood of $.5S,0t)0.00. This Institution is
at large against contact with infectious and located at Aloutrose, Cumberland Co., a
contagious diseases, and has it in his power most beautiful location for an institution of
to place those who may consult him on a its kind.
sound and honest basis. Therefore, i be- This is a small beginning when we couheve
for the good of the people that we sider the great need but shows progress in
should never have but one Medical h:xam- the right direction and will do great good
ining Board in North Carolina, and every to many who enter this Institution for treatman
or woman who propose to practice the ment. Besides the educational feature of