New-York tribune., 1900-08-04
WHY THE BABIES DIE.
IGNORANCE OF MOTHERS MORE FATAL
THAN THE HOTTEST WEATHER,
SAYS A PHYSICIAN

There ought be a compulsory course on the
care and feeding of babies. for all girls in the
public schools said q well known physician Of
this city yesterday. "A woman came 10 a dis
pensary in which an interested this week bring
ing with her sick baby The woman had had
eight children. six Of whom were dead asked b-r
how often she was feeding her baby. and she
replied promptly: Why. every tine IL cries, Of
course'
This Is q hard summer for babies but the ig
norance and stupidity Of mothers are responsible
for larger proportion Of the death rate than the
weather. These women that here. in nine
cases out Of ten take all knowledge OF medicine
they have from the lady across the hall They
learn nothing from experience Every time their
ba bies cry they feed them, II chid's wall al
ways meant something 10 eat And so the more
milk the more coIic-the mora collie the more milk,
until with the heat the babies succumb.'
Al the Babies Hospital at Lexington-ave and
FIfty-hfth-st these words were corroborated.
Improper feeding is responsible FOR more deaths
among children than any other one thing said
rl1e nurse in charge. These poor mothers whom we
meet DO not know that in hot weather the babies
milk should be diluted and that less should De
gwen 10 the child. Many OF babies that die
might have been saved had they been brought to
Us earlier. But the mother keeps her baby until II
Is almost gone, and then when she brings II II
sometimes dies before she leaves Such an instance
occurred recently. more than ordinarily nte!li-
Rert woman brought in beautiful, plump boy, nine
months old sick with cholera nfantu-n. But Willie
she held him he died It was very pitlful ana
she was broken hearted. because she had TO leave
The little body with Us. L be buried IN Potter 5
Field, and go away alone. Her husband Is con-
s-rnptive IN a hospital. and she had been earning
enough washing dishes in restaurant 20 pay thf
ba by's- board and her own lodging in a colo'e'
zouau's apartment Because she was Obliged l
leave her work long enough 10 Drlhg tHe DaoS ne
she lost her place.
That of course. is only case. but she seemed
70 feel Il more than some do
There was only one sick baby AT the hospital Il
Leztngton-ave. when Tribune reporter callet
there This was patient with cholera lnfentuII1
whom they expected 10 take TO the summer oranc
a. Oceanic " J. the following day. At the lattei
place The fifty beds always full one nurse
yaes zhe sick babies 10 the seaside hospital three
li-aes week and brings back win b her an a. nj a.
We v-sn and pale and piriful wailings
continual accompaniment; but coming back the
L--ie faces sunburned and happy- FoFty-I"O
were taken to Oceanic last month -,
During the TWO hours that the dispensary below
are brought daily for medicine and treatment
For babies that too sick TO take
barley or egg water is prescribed To make the
barley water the mothers are instructed 70 pol
tesspoonful OF barley -four for twenty minute i
Z pint Of water, and TO add a plnch OF salt a
BE- ~ 1aIer ~ egg water IS TO be substituted For
TE7E +-e whtte Of one egg is put into q pint of
or he ice The mixture is seasoned with salt and
shaken thoroughlv In many cases all that IS
needed is stop all milk for twenty-iour OF lorly
Z a5J weather it is unusual for babies to
be brought 10 the dispensary IN a oying cohoI'ioh
4 HtTie book containing Instructions for the
proper feeding OF young cnaren e ~ FOODS mai
should never be given 10 any child under elghI
Esn sausage. salt fish, trtpe -.
Green corn, tomatoes. cucumDers. beets, CABBAGE
Eo- bread. hot rolls.
suckwheat or other gridole cakes:
heese nuts. candy. PIE tarts, pastry
Tea coffee, wine. beer or cider. -, 49, es
No stale unrfpe fruits az any time out es-
r