Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-01-08
WEIGHING A RABx

A new charity has been organized
IN France which promises to be of in
estimable value to the state, the es-
tablishment in the hospitals, dispen-
saries and creches of Paris, and other
large cities of free, open clinic for
infants from which mothers of the
poorer classes may obtain both ex-
pert and proper food for their babies.
For some time the attention Of
French medical men has been bent
upon averting the danger threatening
the nation in the great annual NOR
tally of its rurslings.. 1t is estimat-
ed that in certain cities of France,
such as Lille, Tourcoing. Nancy, Bal
bee, Saint Denis, the death rate
among babes reaches one-fourth, one
third. or even one-half the total NOR
tally. The large number of deaths
has been shown to be due to i'm
proper feeding, and every effort is now
being made to correct the prevalent
evil. Statistics show that of the total
number of babies that die in a year
not more than half are beyond the
aid of human Skill. 1t is calculated
that if all the musings were fed in a
rational manner at least $4,000 lives
would be saved annually for the state.
The consultations de nourris-
sonus," adopted to improve the condi-
tions, were the idea of DR.. Budin, who
thus explains his system:
Every week the mothers who are
themselves caring for their children
bring them to the hospital. The babes
are then examined and weighed and
particulars of their condition are re-
corded in a special register. If the
mother is unfit to nurse her child OF
is unable to give it sufficient nourish-
ment it is given sterilized milk This
milk is contained in little bottles, and
in each bottle there is only the quan.
.tity of milk necessary for one feeding.
The mothers receive a cardboard
slip, on which are written the date
of the child's birth, its weight each
week, and the quantity of milk which
should be given it. When the child's
health requires it, it is brought back
during the week and treated accord
ingly.
OF the 435 nurslings who have been
treated in this way at DR.. Budin's dis
pensary only thirty-two have died.
Among these babies, then, the mortal
ity was only about per cent, while
the ordinary ratio has been 80, 40 or
sc per cent. To express it differently,
out of every hundred children brought
to the clinics thirty or forty have
teen saved.
/ In 1898, when the heat was especi-
ally great in Paris, as elsewhere, and
the ranks of infancy were decimated
by diseases of the digestive organs,
il two weeks alone, between the 14th
and 9th Of August, $50 tiny Parisians
died.. This las summer, although the
weather was equally unfavorable. the
death rate among babies has not been
abnormal, tharks to DR.. Budin.
1t is only question of time before
the charity becomes general through
out France AS M. Jonnart, the ne"
governor general of Algeria, who is
giving considerable attention to the
matter. has pointed out, only three
things are necessary for the establish
ment of clinic for infants-a scale,
an apparatus for sterilizing milk, and
the. devotion of physician. An ap-
neal to the devotion of the medical
fraternity is never made in vain; and
free distribution of sterilized milk
does not call for eyorbitant outlay of
money. 49,
work that is being carried on by the
French authorities is familiar to the
American public. the rescue from pre-
mature death of infants born too
Young. whose organs. imperfectly de-
yeloped and still inactive. functionate
poorly. The methods of treatment,
however, differ in detail from the
most improved in use in the United
states. While many of the disad-
yantages Of premature birth may be
overcome by skillful use of an infants
incubator, the proper adjustment of
food to each individual case and tho
administration Of 1t is q problem need
Ing for solution the most intelligent