The Need of Improved Records of the Physical Condition of School Children

strate the wisdom of medical inspection and to further its universal adoption. It must be admitted, however, that up to the present time they have not, as a rule, been compiled in the most scientific manner, nor have the records of the original physical examinations evidenced a comprehensive understanding of the various diseases and defects encountered. Curable and noncurable, primary and secondary, temporary and permanent, mild and severe defects have been lumped together to form totals which have further been swelled by the addition of mere symptoms such as headache, earache, and toothache. No intelligent conception has been given of the relation to each other of the number of defective children, the number of defects found, and the number of children receiving parents' notices. As a consequence, enor-