The Health Index of Children
NEWS AND COMMENT. 55 :Author: Ernest Bryant Hoag, M.A., M.D., witn a preiatory note by ^raxiK Jb. isuiiKer, rn.n. Ban Francisco: Whitaker & Ray-Wiggin Co., 1910. Pp. 188.
Not many years ago a child was considered even by its family physician to be in good physical condition unless it was obviously ill. Many common defects such as strabismus, adenoids, and irregular teeth, were regarded as belonging to necessary types, as difficult to avoid and as of little consequence as the normal facial variations.
At the present time, however, the physical welfare of the child is becoming more and more a topic of great importance. It is vitally necessary for teachers as well as parents, to acquaint themselves with many common appearances which indicate that the child needs immediate and careful physical attention. The teacher who possesses a knowledge of these signs is in a position to make use of her knowledge for the protection of her pupils, for not only will she be able to refer suspected cases to school physicians for examination, but she will be able to detect the first stages of contagious diseases and send the child home before the danger of spreading the disease has become great.
It was Dr William Harvey Allen, of New York City, who first applied the term “reading the health index” to the observation of signs of physical disability among children. Dr Iloag has adopted this phrase and has produced an excellent manual for obtaining an intelligent knowledge of “the health index.” It is sensibly written in untechnical and simple language for the use of teachers and parents. Signs of various disorders and what they imply are made clear without unnecessary circumlocution. Each chapter is accompanied with a brief summary which makes quick reference an easy matter.
Besides considering physical defects, the book also contains several valuable short articles upon “Posture,” Foods for Children,” “The Health of the Teacher,” “Office System,” and “Some Details of the Physician’s Examination,” concluding with a fairly complete bibliography. C. K. T.
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