NATIONAL HEALTH

Evening Star, Issue 21638, 6 February 1934, Page 6

NATIONAL HEALTH

MEDICAL SYMPOSIUM ARE AUSTRALIANS TOO TALL ? UNIVERSAL TRAINING The view that the Australian of the future might be inconveniently tall and heavy was expressed at the Australian Medical Congress at Hobart. One of the papers made a plea for universal training. Dr John Dale, health officer of tho city- of Melbourne, in his presidential address to the public health section', stressed the point that the word “ health ” had two distinct meanings. On tlie one hand it had objectively 7 its usual significance, and on the other subjectively 7 it denoted tho degree of satisfaction with life. He said they were well aware that even if tho obvious physical essentials of health were available to an individual, unless life was worth living for that individual he would not properly assimilate those essentials, and that sooner or later a physical breakdown, with loss of health, was inevitable. The medical profession was in honour bound to face this issue, and to teach it. That was the standard of subjective health. It could be summed up in tho words happiness or joy of life. The profession had a duty to demand that the social system be adjusted to prevent all the misery and cruelty 7 which doctors encountered in their work. Even without going deeply into economic problems, doctors could see that the ill health of tho masses was not due to any perversity 7 on their part. The majority were not lacking in selfrespect, and were even anxious to work under reasonable conditions, but work was denied them owing to so-called over-production. As humane, educated men of good will they should demand that tho economic system be the object of their scientific inquiry, said Dr Dale. TAKING STOCK OF HEALTH. Among important sectional papers was a discussion on the careful selection and supervision of “ the fit ” for national and military service, by 7 Lieu-tenant-colonel T. Garnet Leary, of the Australian Army Medical Corps. He expressed the view that the cessation of universal training in Australia had reacted, and would continue to react, adversely upon Australian youth. He suggested regular examinations of youths from the ages of twelve to twenty 7 years. It was the duty of the community to make such steps as would ensure the maintenance of a high percentage of fit men, and in that respect the medical profession would play its part by the formation of clinics charged with responsibility_ for tho compulsory periodical examination of school children, and for the necessary remedial measures consequent on the examination. Such treatment .should be compulsory. War had become once again a national struggle for existence, and, as only the physically fit could hope to survive even in peace, it was considered that constant medical supervision was most essential. One great lesson from the last war' was that the classification of fitness could not be carried out at tho last moment, nor could fitness be achieved in a hurry. The cessation 'of ■ universal training, said Lieutenant-colonel Leary, would continue to reflect adversely upon Australian youth, and both from a military and civic aspect verged upon a national calamity. In the national interests it was contended that the provisions of the Defence Act as regards registrations and medical examination should bo again enforced, to allow stock to be taken of national physique and health. If every youth were examined before the age of fourteen many cases of malformation, malnutrition, and disease might be corrected, thus raising the general health and physique of the nation. Disguise the fact as they would, it was evident that parental control had weakened. At fourteen years of age the average boy left school, and he then threw off all control and discipline in many cases. In recent years Jarrikinism, sacrilege, vandalism, and anti-social activities had been apparent owing to lack of community spirit and national pride. Lie suggested that all youths be examined and classified at school between the ages of 12 and 14, that all youths from 14 to 16 years ho trained physically, and at 16 years he re-examined, all youths to be continued in training under discipline till the age of 18: then re-examined and discharged 'with the obligation to report again for a medical examination at twenty years. Lieutenant Colonel Leary said that to provide an interest for many young men unemployed, unemployable, or partly so, some form of training would be valuable. Apart from the defence aspect, it would promote smartness, usefulness, and loyalty, with discipline as the keynote of national pride. INCONVENIENCE OF EXCESSIVE HEIGHT. The interesting forecast was made by Dr Jane S. Greig, medical inspector of the Education Department of Victoria, in a sectional paper on physical defects of the school chill, that the time was coming when excessive height would be a serious inconvenience. On the question of the height and weight of children, Dr Greig referred to a conversation with Sir George Knibbs, then Commonwealth Statistician, some time after 1912, in which she expressed the view that the average Australian was steadily increasing in height and weight. In the preparation of averages in two "roups over an interval of ten years it was shown that the Victorian child in' 1922 was taller and hcavnr at every age than in 1912. . '”1 think the time is coning, Dr Greff' said, “ when excessffc height will ne a serious inconvenience. Already doorwavs in trains and Irairs are too low for many men, and th« average bed and ship’s berth will in true he too short. For a long time I :iaye been astonished at the amazing leight of onr adolescents at the age of fourteen, fifteen or sixteen years, but in iccent years it is the height of the girls of twelve and thirteen that is surprising. Dr Greig pointed out the freedom of Australia from serious diseases compared with their incidence dsewhere, and said that this freedom, coupled with the fact that children'averaged more in height and weight than the average English child, surdy gave them the chance of being of tie world s best if they could only remety or remove the many minor defects ; still existing. What was wanted was not to create a race with great brine iorce, but to rear a healthy people vith constant efficiency and endurancf to enable them to use their special abilities to the utmost. Only with ihe best inedictil help could this be Attuned.