The Pre-School Age 77 



The years of the pre-school age, before six, 

 represent a critical time in reference to future 

 development. The frequent magnitude of the 

 problem may be realized when we consider the 

 estimate that there are about half a million 

 children of the pre-school age in New York 

 City. These children should all be carefully 

 examined twice a year in order to recognize 

 any condition or defect that can usually be cor- 

 rected at the start. 



It is now believed by many observers that 

 numerous defects and degenerations of later 

 life have their real origin from some infection 

 or other unfortunate condition during the first 

 few years. For example, it is held that few 

 adults have escaped infection by the tubercle 

 bacillus, but the disease becomes latent and 

 harmless unless a diminished resistance has 

 been inherited or the general health much de- 

 pressed. It is further believed that the original 

 focus of infection is nearly always started dur- 

 ing the early years. In making autopsies on 

 mal-nourished children in the hospital, I have 

 nearly always found some tuberculous focus 



