Better facilities for detecting defects, more rigid definitions of fitness
for military service, less urgency in supplying men fit to fight, have
undoubtedly combined to increase rejections for certain defects, and for
others to indicate only slight improvements when we might reasonably
have expected far greater ones on the basis of the observed national
morbidity and mortality rates. It has been pointed out that national
vital statistics give a much truer picture of the Nation’s health than do
the preliminary statistics of physical defects brought to light in the
selective service examinations. The death rate is lower now than it
has ever been, and longevity is at its peak. There is no question but
that there has been marked improvement in the health of the civilian
population with a vastly greater chance now for young people to win
through to adult life than 25 years ago.

Let us not forget, however, that it was physical defects at a period
when health should be at its best, and not the death rate, which aroused
the crusaders of 1918. It was to equip for life, that led us then to start
working for healthier boys and girls. It does not help us much to
know that the young men of today must pass more rigid tests and meet
higher standards than did their fathers; that on the whole they are
taller and better educated, and stand a good chance of living longer.
This is the year 1941, not 1918. We are judging and being judged by
the standards we have helped to establish. And by those standards
preventable and remediable defects and diseases are still all too common
among American youth.

On the other hand, if we have failed to achieve dramatic and universal
improvement in the young men of one generation as compared with
those of the preceding generation, there is no reason to be discouraged.
In Emerson’s words, “Our knowledge is the amassed thought and ex-
perience of innumerable minds.” As the generations succeed one another,
new methods are tried out, new facilities are made available, new a
mation is spread, old prejudices and superstitions are overcome. With
each generation we begin afresh, with well-tried knowledge constantly
growing, with workable iachinery constantly being improved, with a
few spectacular triumphs to hearten us. What we have already accom-
plished, what we have yet to do, is the theme of this year’s HEALTH
BULLETIN FOR TEACHERS.

For oute of olde feldys, as men sey,
Comyth al this newe corn from yere to yere.
Cuaucer, The Parlement of Fowles

REFERENCES

Public Health Reports, United States Public Health Service, Washington, D.C. “Summary of Defects Among
Men Drafted in the World War,” issue of January 10, 1941; “Physical Disqualifications Under the
Selective Service Law,” issue of May 9, 1941.

“Relationship of the Health of Civilians to Efficiency of the Army,” James C. Mace, M.D., Sc.D, American
Fournal of Public Health, November 1940. American Public Health Association, New Y ork, N. Y

“Physical Fitness of American Youth,” Statistical Bulletin, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, June 1941,

ScHooL HeattH BuREAU—WELFARE DivISsION

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
4

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY PRESS
NEW YORK, U.S.A.
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