Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-13

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Jhe Mortality Among the Childrea
The continuous high tenn perature which
has existed for nearly three weeks through
out our country has, in all the large cities,
been accompanied by very considerable
increase Of mortality. Tue increase In the
death rate at this season is largely made up
OF infants under two years OF age, and OF
very old persons. Excessive heat is unques-
tionably very facilitating, frequently bring
Ing on congestion, similar to sun stroke
In broken down constitutions, and In young
children causing their death after but q few
hours sickness. 1t Is sad TO contemplate
the great mortality that taxes place among
The innocents during the months of June,
July, August and September, In nearly all
the large cities In our northern, eastern, and
western states. Whenever the thermom-
eter rises to So, or maintains an average
temperature for the twenty four hours
that VIII exceed 75', the death rate
viii run up among children, preserving
nearly uniform relation OF the number of
deaths 10 the excess Of neat above this q gure
This Is particularly true In all large cities.
The conditions that are constant Is the age
OF the children and the high temperature
SIOWQcu tcQelI oubt anu D80ly Cared IOr
premises, inJudi CT Gus nursing. &C , will, of
course, aggravate all other predisposing
causes to increase the mortality. Health
ouicers and the public press In other cities
have already called attention to the fright
full mortality this season among children
under five years Of age, and particularly OF
infants under two. The last few weeks show
very considerable increase OF mortality In
this class in Washington The disease to
which this increase Is chiefly due IL COM
monty known as cholera infantum. This is
spreventable malay, and deserves the con-
alteration Of sanitarians, philan thropists
and statesmen. Prevention Is better than
cure. What protective measures can be
suggested and put into operation by cities
That will arrest this cruel and unnecessary
waste OF infantile life? 1t is, we believe, q
conceded fact that certain localities are
almost free from this destroyer of infants.
1t has scarcely an existence or q name In
Europe. The localities In the United States
exempted from the seven forms OF cholera
1nfantum are the rural districts generally.
But particularly are the elevated noun
tain regions of the old states exempt from It,
All the plateaus from the Hudson river to
the southern extremity OF the Appalachian
chain, wherever the elevation rises above
1000 feet, this disease Is almost unknown.
Bot as al, children suffering from the sum-
mer complaint, or liable 10 il, cannot be re-
moved from their homes In cities, even
where death is imm inent, what is to be done?
Much can b done by health officers, and by
sanitary precautions, both public and pri-
vate, 70 render tine waste OF infant LIFE less
even in city homes, when proper efforts are
made. Boards Of health and enlightened
sanitarians In most OF our cities are working
In this direction, yet II appears that the rate
Fu frf.rY> p fc kx.1
rely upon the records, not notably decreased.
What Is hopeful in the outlook OF the matter
Is that attention Is now being more forcibly
directed TO the subject every season. and
measures looking at least to temporary re-
lief, as excursions on rivers and bays and
into the country, are being inaugurated, but
these are so spasnodic. temporary and ex-
penstve that they exhaust the means of the
philanthropic without securing any perma-
nent results. The infants have to return st
night TO sleep In their old super heated
rooms. Some years since this paper was the
channel for promulgatipg some views that
We still believe to merit the attention of the
philanthropist relative to the establishment
Of free parks, and camping grounds where
mothers and nurses could take children and
ind positive relief during the oppressive
heat Of summer.
The idea of sanitariums OF this description,
we should add, originated with DIR. Toner,
OF this city, who has given much attention
to the matter Of vital statistics In this coun-
try.
Whether free parks afford the best solution
for the arrest Of this terrible mortality
among infants during the heated term, or
not, these views set forth in TIE STAR as
sisted In directing public attention to the
necessity for some specific and concerted
action upon the part Of city corporations for
the conservation OF infantile life. New York
has opened an institution based upon this
idea, on The sea shore, and Ii Is to be hoped
good effects may result, and the practicable.
ity and utility OF such measures be tested.
But cannot something be gained for all cities,
and particularly our OVID, by sanitary in
spectors examining into the sleeping apart
ments and houses OF the poor, in which
the greatest mortality OF infants takes
place? The well 70 do can remove their
children To the country, the sea shore, or the
mountain resorts, but the laboring classes
have not the time or the means to do SO
The sleeping apartments OF the working
class are frequently very deficient In venti.
lation and other sanitary convaniences
Many OF these dwellings are heated ND
during the day so that the tempera-
ture In them Is frequently much above
90 during most OF the day and night
While heat IS q constant, Is is only one of
the many factors In cities unfavorable to
fnfantile life. The mode through which we
may hope 10 preserve lives is by improved
sanitary conditions, such as ventilation,
sewerage, and water supply. Shade trees In
our streets and public squares are great con-
servators Of public health In cities, and
ought TO be cultivated and protected. So
much has been done OF late years to i'm
prove the streets and sewerage Of Washing
plain, but IL should not b. forgotten that
many Of the old trees that lined our streets
and defended US from the searching rays of
. midday sun, were sacrificed to the altered
grades and the new order OF improvements.
Young trees are slowly coming on, and win
In time furnish abundant shade to our side.
walks. Sanitary inspection OF all houses