The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-13
FOR THE FEEBLE BABIES.
The Lion Incubator an object of Much
Interest.
Leslie.s Weekly.


What may be called an up-to-date baby
show, on the continuous-performan plan.
has been added recently to the permanent
popular attraction of New York city. 1t is
Lions incubators for the care and develop
ment of feeble and prematurey-born in
fants The installation, on West Eighteenth
street, near Fifth avenue. of this branch of
the Maternite Lion of Paris is both COM
modious and elegant
Isn't this just lovely" What charm
pefs!' How snug and eontented they
looki" why, it's a babies paradise!
These and similar expressions of pleas
urable surprise are uttered by a daily
stream of visitors, in which the feminine
element is vastly predominant.
Each incubator is in charge of a trained
nurse neatly CARRIED in gray, with white
apron, collars. cuffs and cap. On the south
side of the main hall, and directly facing
the main entrance, is the infants's nursery
with it's extensive glass front where the
chief matron and her corps of nurses. I'M
der the direction of an institute physician,
may be seen feeding the babies. A special
grade of heat is absolutely necessary to the
human mites housed in Professor Lions in
cubators, the perfect wholesomeness of
which is doubly assured by the pure air au-
tomdtically furnished therein by the unique
air regulator.
In the rear of the nursery are the sleep
ing quarters of the chief matron and her
asSiStants who are detailed for duty in
watches, as the infants must be cared
for throughout the night as well as by day,
and especially as urgency calls occur more
frequently between midnight and daybreak
than at any other time
Every new baby arrival becomes a source
of exciting interest. as each one whether
it be premature or a "weaking," pre-
Sents some exceptional features for the ply
sician'S consideration, and entails special
instructions to the chief matron, as to its
proper treatment.
If the babe is found to be entirely free
from contagion or infection. it's name, ago,
length. weight. temperature and general
and calling of its parents. are duly recorded
in the institute life book" and them it
is consigned to the care of the chief matron.
who assigns it to an incubator, in front of
which all these points and its daily prog
ress are registered for public information.
Some idea having been gathered of the
aims, conVenienceS and installation of the
is of interest further to glance at its gem
eral scope. and methods adopted for intro
ducing it here to the same degree of popu-
larity it has achieved in Europe. Expert
ence in Paris and other large cities of the
old world has demonstrated that the annual
death rate OF baby ''prematures" and
weddings" for three years prior to the
discovery and introduction of the Lion in
cubators averaged eight hundred in every
thousand. and that during the three years
of these incubators employment the death
rate from the causes named has fallen to
$50 per thousand in each year. Parisians
now send all such infants to the local Lion
Institute, which is sustained financially by
municipal and private contributions.
In both London and Paris, philanthropic
women have formed Infant Saving Asso-
ciatiOns," and the Americans are not likely
to be behind their European sisters in deeds
of humanity.