MAKING SOUND CITIZENS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1907, Page 6

MAKING SOUND CITIZENS.

People of ths present generation who would like to be succeeded by a sound race will no doubt hops that the Minister of Public Health will pay teiious heed to Dr. Mason's recommendations about the medical examination of school children. Much has beer said lately about citizen-making, hut tho trend of tho movement has been mther on the psychical fliJe. The phyEical aspect has' not bsen neglected, but the body has not received adequate attention. To check dicaEO in early stages, to prevent ailments from appearing at all, is the aim of tho Chief Health Officer's scheme The p*oplo havu yet to learn to properly lear their infants, and when this is,, done tho parents' duty is not Sniihed. Children diould not be left to "simply grow." Their health must be caTefully v.'ptchcd uhile they aTe at ychnol, in the interests of themselves and the community. A little probe and a stitch in time may save a child fiom much misery. Dr. Mason's idea is to have tho liltle ones thoroughly inspected at rersonablc intervals, and paiants afc to be at once inffumed about any ailment noticed in their children. Hospitals will be available for pupils whoso parents aTe not able to afford to pay for treatment in the ordinary' way, and oven in the- case of diseased teeth Dr. Mason hints that patients in this department will be on a paT with others. The icport of th-2 Wellington Dental Association, giving evidence of widespiead decay in the teeth of children at the local schools, is a very strong argument in favour of Dr. Mason's propceals. A painful revelation has come ' from nn examination of the mouths of the pupils, and though inspection ofv the enrs, throats, noses, and oyes may not he so depressing, there is good T-eison to bolisve that no time aliould bo wasted in bringing into operation gome such scheme as Dr. Mason's for the making of sound citizens.