SIGNIFICANT FACTS 



* ' T II T E endorse legislation providing for the medical inspec- 

 \ /\ / tion of schools, because extended and varied experi- 

 V V ence has demonstrated that efficient medical inspec- 

 tion betters health conditions among school children, safeguards 

 them from disease, renders them healthier, happier and more vig- 

 orous, and aims to insure for each child such physical and mental 

 vitality as will best enable him to take full advantage of the 

 free education offered by the state." Extract from Resolutions 

 Adopted by the Conference of State and Provincial Boards of 

 Health, Los Angeles, June 3o-July i, 1911. 



Medical inspection is a movement national in scope in 

 England, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzer- 

 land, Belgium, Japan, Australia and Tasmania. It is found in 

 the more important cities in Denmark, Russia, Bulgaria, Egypt, 

 Canada, Mexico, the Argentine Republic, and. Chili. In the 

 United States regularly organized systems are in force in nearly 

 one-half of the cities, while a beginning has been made in nearly 

 three-fourths of them. 



Medical inspection of schools had its inception some eighty 

 years ago, and during the past quarter of a century it has assumed 

 the proportions of a world-wide movement. It is found in all the 

 continents and the extent of its development in different countries 

 is in some measure proportionate to their degree of educational 

 enlightenment. 



Clear distinction must be made between medical inspection, 

 solely for the detection of communicable disease, and physical 

 examinations which aim to discover defects, diseases, and physical 

 abnormalities. The former relates primarily to the immediate 

 protection of the community, while the latter looks to securing 

 and maintaining the health and vitality of the individual. 



Medical inspection for the detection of contagious diseases 

 may well be a function of the board of health, for it aims at the 



vii 



