Introduction
Dr. Maurice E. Baker
Dr. Maurice Edward Baker was born on March 18, 1893 to Michael J. and Dora S. Baker of Cleveland County, North Carolina. His father was a farmer. Maurice Baker graduated from nearby Fallston NC High School in 1913. When he registered for the draft at Fallston in 1917 he was working on his own farm. After serving in the Armed Forces during World War I, he returned to school, graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1921.
Maurice Baker came north to attend medical school, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1921. He interned at Cooper Hospital in Camden in 1922, and then set up his own practice in gynecology and obstetrics.
Dr. Baker was affiliated with the Camden General Hospital, and was a member of the Camden County Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
By 1930 Dr. Baker had made his home at 1149 Kaighn Avenue, at the corner of Kaighn Avenue and Rose Street. He was married to the former Rebecca Zieger. The Bakers had two children, Jane and Robert, both born after April of 1930. The family had moved to 200 West Maple Avenue in Merchantville NJ by 1947. Dr. Baker was still practicing medicine in Camden, although not at the Kaighn Avenue address.
Dr. Baker was involved in local politics. A Democrat, he ran unsuccessfully in the May 1935 elections for Camden’s City Commission, on the same slate as Frank J. Hartmann, Jr., Mary W. Kobus, and George Brunner. Dr. Baker was appointed staff physician for the Camden City department of public works at an annual salary of $1500 in February of 1936.
Dr. Maurice Edward Baker passed away in 1954. Dr. Baker’s younger brother, Banks S. Baker, also practiced medicine in Camden.
Hartmann Names Dr. Baker Public Works Staff Physician
Camden Courier-Post —
Civil Service Commission Asked to Approve $1500 Job — Action Declared Economy Move
The State Civil Service Commission has been requested to authorize appointment of a staff physician for the Camden City department of public works at an annual salary of $1500, and Dr. Maurice E. Baker has been named to the post on an ad interim appointment by Commissioner Frank J. Hartmann, Jr.
Dr. Baker, a Democrat, was a candidate for city commissioner last May on the New Deal-Non Partisan ticket, which elected Hartmann and Commissioners Mary W. Kobus and George E. Brunner.
Hartmann said last night that Dr. Baker has been acting as staff physician for the past four days and has made 12 examinations.
Some of these, Hartmann said, were for city employees with frost-bitten toes, fingers and ears, who are claiming compensation, and one was of a woman who slipped and fell on a sidewalk.
“Dr. Baker, of course, is not getting paid a salary now,” Hartmann said, “but we hope he can be placed on a salary as a money-saving movement.
“Heretofore the physicians examining city workmen on compensation claims have charged the city $10 for each examination.
“I expect Dr. Baker to make 600 to 700 calls a year, most of them examinations, and thus get the work, done for $2 in each case.
“I expect also to save money on compensation claims by having Dr. Baker make examinations of any new men hired, so that we may be sure they are in good physical condition. As it is a man could receive an injury somewhere else, go to work for the city and then claim compensation for the injury by pretending it happened on the city job.
“Dr. Baker’s examinations of the present employees will lead to compensation claim savings also, as we will be in position to make some of these men take steps to protect themselves and the city, where remedial action seems necessary.”
Hartmann said all members of the city commission except Mayor Frederick von Nieda have endorsed the employment of a staff physician. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to the mayor about it yet,” Hartmann said. City Solicitor E. G. C. Bleakly also has approved the move as offering a chance to save money, Hartmann said.
School Physician Finds Many Pupils With Eye Troubles
Camden Courier-Post —
Baker Urges Board to Name Oculist for Treatment of Camden Pupils — Some Need Spectacles
An alarming increase in the number of Camden school children suffering from long neglected and needed treatment for eye defects and failing vision was reported to the Board of Education at its meeting last night by Dr. Maurice E. Baker, chief school physician.
A recommendation that an oculist be employed to examine eyes of children in which defective vision, failing sight and eye defects have long been neglected was received for consideration of the new board which takes office today.
Dr. Baker said this condition among children attending the city schools has reached a serious stage, with the possibility that several children are threatened with possible loss of sight because the necessary medical eye examinations cannot be made and because most of the parents cannot afford to pay for spectacles.
“Other school physicians and my self have found that hundreds of our schoolchildren suffer from minor and many from serious eye ailments and diseases,” Dr. Baker told members of the board.
“The local hospitals cannot take care of these children because of lack of physicians and required facilities.
Children have to wait from three to four months for examinations and refractions of their eyes.
Cause of Backwardness
Dr. Baker said, he found his predecessors had failed to follow up pupils examined several years ago. A recheck up of these same children, he said, had disclosed that in many instances pupils who had fine marks in lower grades and become backward and “problem” pupils because many had only sufficient vision to barely read and to write.
“Many of these unfortunate children have had to suffer many years because their parents could not pay to have their eyes examined by oculists,” the physician added, “Most of them are too poor to pay the price for spectacles they need.
“The school physicians think it far more important to have these children treated for eye defects than to give, them examinations for flat feet, rickets and less dangerous ailments.
“Such a condition is costing the city and taxpayers a lot of money every year as long as these pupils are neglected.”
Board Urged to Act
William B. Sullender, retiring board member, supported Dr. Baker and moved that his recommendation that an oculist be engaged be considered by the entire board.
“While you are at it, please remember the city does not have a school dentist,” Sullender remarked. “The eyes and teeth of our school children are more important than anything else.”
Sullender’s remark about a school dentist drew smiles from several board members. A dentist was to have been appointed several months ago, but no action has been taken on such an appointment.
Several members commended Dr. Baker on his report for the month of December, in which the various diseases and ailments and the number of cases are listed separately.
Influenza, chicken pox and mumps led most of the maladies, according to the physician. There were 32 cases of mumps, 45 with influenza and the same number of pupils with chicken pox. Some of the other diseases and the number afflicted were: eye, 8; measles, 7; pneumonia, 5; diphtheria, 2; scarlet fever, 5. No cases of whooping cough were reported.
Tonsitis, Bad Teeth Chief Student Ills
Camden Courier-Post —
Dr. Baker Reports No Cases of Whooping Cough Found in Schools
Not one case of whooping cough was found by Camden public school examining physicians and nurses during December.
However, 1284 pupils were found to have infected tonsils and 195 were reported as having their tonsils removed.
Dr. Maurice E. Baker, chief medical inspector, in his report, also disclosed bad tonsils, defective vision and poor teeth make up the major physical conditions in need of correction among city school children.
At the last meeting of the Board of Education, Dr. Baker told the members the large number of pupils with defective vision and eye ailments has created a serious condition. He urged appointment of an oculist to examine the eyes of the children and to prescribe treatments and spectacles.
During December, 573 pupils were found to be suffering from eye defects. Of this number 183 pupils had their eyes treated or were fitted with spectacles.
More pupils were found to be suffering from defective teeth, 1635 being found in need of dental attention. Of this number 397 received needed treatment.
The city schools have been without the services of a dentist for several months, but it is expected a dentist will be appointed.
Further examinations of pupils, Dr. Baker reported, disclosed 168 pupils with heart conditions. Only 11 were found to have defects in hearing.
School children get headaches, Dr. Baker reported. There were 126 treated for that ailment. 86 were relieved of toothaches and 10 were treated for earaches.
Except for more than average increases in the number of children suffering from chicken pox, mumps and influenza the general health of Camden school children was normal, Dr. Baker said. Only two cases of diphtheria and five of scarlet fever were reported.
Judge Orders Foster Mother to See Children Have Glasses
Camden Courier-Post —
Woman Brought Into Court After Feud with School Officials; Doctor Baker Assails Parents Who Refuse to Have Pupils’ Vision Corrected
An East Camden woman, foster mother of two adopted daughters, is the central figure in a controversy with school officials who yesterday took steps to compel her to provide the children with spectacles to correct long-standing eye defects.
The woman, who is a trained nurse, is Mrs. Anna Cross, 40, of 3074 Federal street. Her husband, Asa Cross, is a former railroad worker.
Arraigned yesterday morning in Police Court after her arrest on a bench warrant, Mrs. Cross, when ordered by Police Judge Gene R. Mariano to get the glasses for the children, Lorraine, 10, and Leona, 14, is said to have left the court room declaring, “I will see Governor Moore about this.”
C. Paul Nay, school attendance officer, who charged her with violating the compulsory school attendance law, said the woman had defiantly refused to get the glasses for several years.
Raps Defiant Parents
Dr. Maurice E. Baker, chief school physician, said he intends to “crack down” on parents who persistently refuse to have their children fitted with spectacles. The physician said there are hundreds of school children in need of proper glasses and the majority are from two to three years behind in their studies because of faulty vision.
Mrs. Cross denied she had refused the instructions of school officials. She said her husband was laid off some time ago after working more than 30 years as a railroadman. The woman said she has been financially unable to pay for the glasses and the only money the family receives is when she obtains employment as a nurse.
Mrs. Cross denied she told Judge Mariano that Governor Moore is a personal friend.
“I love the children and I will do anything I can for them,” Mrs. Cross said at her home last night.
Claims Woman Defiant
“My records in the case of the two children show they were found to have defective vision five or six years ago,” said Nay. “I have tried many times to tell Mrs. Cross long neglect of the children’s eyes is harmful to them and that it might lead to incurable eye ailments.
“Mrs. Cross simply defied me and the teachers. She absolutely refuses to comply with our requests. Her attitude has worked physical handicaps in the case of the children.”
Nay said teachers in the Cramer school reported her alleged defiance. Nay added the woman ignored a court summons served on her last Friday. He said Patrolman John Wonsetler reported to him that Mrs. Cross threw the summons in his face.
When the woman failed to appear in police court yesterday, Nay said he asked Judge Mariano for the bench warrant and she was brought into court.
Says Board Must Act
“I have asked the school attendance officer to follow up those long standing cases of school children needing glasses,” Dr. Baker added. “I intend to see these children have proper treatment for their eyes. If the parents cannot pay for glasses, then the Board of Education must do something about it.
“The board cannot expect the various parent-teacher groups to continue buying glasses. They don’t have that much money.
“This situation affecting hundreds of school children is not only serious but it is alarming. Something has got to be done and I am going to see that something is done or I will quit my job as chief school physician.
Dr. Baker said he realizes many parents can’t raise the money to buy glasses. These parents will be helped in some way. Others who continue their defiance will be dealt with, he said.
“Are we going to stand by and permit these children to develop eye defects that will not permit them to obtain employment later in life?” Dr. Baker said. “Several children, unless they are taken care of, will eventually go blind.”
Cites Lack of Oculists
The physician deplored the lack of clinical facilities and oculists at the Cooper and West Jersey Hospitals.
“At present our two local hospitals hold eye clinics twice weekly,” he said. “When a child does apply for examination he or she is told to come back in two or three months.
“The usual result is the child never goes back and its vision becomes more defective. The hospitals don’t bother following up the cases.
“I intend to recommend that clinics for eye and nose and throat examinations be established with city funds at the Municipal Hospital. There is plenty of room there, and I am sure there are a sufficient number of physicians specializing in eye work who will donate their services to help our children.
“The taxpayers contribute thousands of dollars to these hospitals and their children have the right to get proper examination and treatment, even if they can’t afford to pay anything.
Charges Work Restricted
Dr. Baker said he complained several times against a practice at Cooper Hospital, whereby patients examined were told to go to certain optometrists to obtain their glasses. The patient, according to the physician, is not given the prescription, which is mailed to the optometrist selected by the examining physician.
“When this business is restricted to a few places it is a bad practice,” he stated. “There is no need for parents to pay high prices for spectacles. There are plenty of competent optometrists who can provide cheap aluminum frames and flat lens.”
The physician said Joseph W. Frost, of Sixth and Market streets, had agreed with him to provide glasses for a sum less than $5.
Frost said he had made such an agreement only for the purpose of helping deserving children. He said his profit would be very small. Frost said the Board of Education several years ago paid for glasses for poor children. The practice later was discontinued, he said.