MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS 



ministerial decree of 1873 which provided for the regular employ- 

 ment of school physicians. In Hungary the office of school 

 physician was established by the act of 1885. 



In Bulgaria organized work dates from 1904, while in 

 Roumania adequate legislation has existed since 1899. 



In Switzerland the medical inspection of schools and school 

 children is recommended, but not enforced, by the federal govern- 

 ment. Nevertheless some 13 cantons now carry out the recom- 

 mended inspection and thorough work is done by the school 

 physicians of some cities. 



In Japan medical inspection has been compulsory and 

 universal since 1898, only small towns and country districts being 

 exempt. 



In Egypt, Cairo appointed the first school physician in 1882, 

 and the system has been in force ever since. 



In Australia and Tasmania the work dates from 1906 and 

 includes not only measures for the prevention of contagious 

 diseases but physical examinations, together with much scientific 

 study of results. This renders the reports from these countries 

 unusually valuable. 



In America a number of countries besides the United States 

 have more or less fully developed systems of medical inspection. 

 In Canada, Montreal began in 1906 with the appointment of 50 

 school physicians. Halifax and Vancouver followed in 1907. In 

 all of the provinces there is inspection; and in Ontario, Manitoba, 

 and Alberta, it is provided for by law. 



In Mexico medical inspection dates from 1896, when the 

 department of medical inspection and school hygiene was organized 

 under the director general of elementary instruction and a few phy- 

 sicians were appointed. Since that time there have been several 

 reorganizations of the system, with constant extension. In the 

 city of Mexico and its suburbs, it is now very complete and notably 

 efficient. From the capital the work has spread until it is now 

 fully organized in the state of Chihuahua, and partly so in Guana- 

 juato and San Luis Potosi. 



In South America, the Argentine Republic and Chile began 

 medical inspection in 1888 and in both countries the systems are 

 thoroughly developed. 



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