The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-06-28

Editor Advertiser: This matter ha
very fifty been called by the above ii
tie, for the matter of pure milk will b.
good news to many an infant who
through ignorance on the part of IT:
parents, as also their inability to OBJ
tain the genuine article has but &
short, but by no means a merry lif,
in this beautiful city of ours.
A careful study of the records of the
Board of Health gives those interested
in humanity much food for thought
Honolulu probably has the most de-
Eghtful and even climate to be found
anywhere in the world, one which, doc
tors say, is admirably adapted to in
fants, and yet the death-rate among
these helpless ones is no less than in
climates less favorable to their rear
ing.
FROM 1900-1905, both years inclusive,
the records of the Board of Health
show that the mortality among chill
dren under five years of age was 1922
per cent. of the total mortality of the
city. The most pathetic phase of the
whole situation, however, is the fearful
rate of mortality among children under
one year of age; of the children who
die under five years of age, IS per cent.
die before they reach the age of one
year.
Compared with the death-rate in
e.
in excess of the average by 27.4 per
1000, the death-rate of Honolulu per 1000
for children under five being 1915. This
rate is only exceeded by twenty-one
cities on the mainland, fourteen of these
being situated in the South
ern States, where the negro population
is predominant. OF the other seven,
most, if not all of them, are large man
cities where the foreign ele-
ment of Europe are in great numbers
and help swell the death-rate.
Among the races in Honolulu. the
Hawaiians lead with A per cent. OF
the deaths among children under five
years of age, the other races following
being: Japanese, % per cent; Portu-
guese, Is per cent; Chinese, IL per
cent: whites, .06 per cent; others, OF
per cent.
Among causes of DEATH gastro-intes-
final trouble leads with a percentage
of 46.5; the probabilities are that, if
accurate information could
be had, the percentage would even be
higher.
1t is apparent from even this cursory
study of the statistics. something ought
to be done to help these little ones.
A mother once said to DIR. Osler that
Providence had seen fit to take her
little one. DR.. Osler replied to the eff
feet that it was not Providence, but
dirty milk.
The agitation for a Children's Hos
pital is a step in the right direction.
it a great deal can be done
to help the little ones. The district
nurse of Palama Settlement is doing
what she can to help these helpless
ones, but it is sometimes hard. espe-
tally when the opportunity to obtain
proper nourishment in the way Of pure
milk is almost nil. To meet this de-
nand, the Settlement decided to take
10 the matter in connection with its
DR.. w. d. Baldwin has given much
lelp in every way in the starting of
his much-needed work. In fact, his
PAPER read before the last Medical As
meeting was one of the in
,entives to the starting of the milk
Iepot.
The pure milk depot is situated in a
Dom in Palama Settlement well adapt !
d to the purpose. Every care is taken |
0 keep the milk pure from source to |
consumption. A contract has been en- |
cred into with P. NJ. Pond to supply 1
he milk, with very exactihg condi-
ions. Mr.. Pond is complying with the /
onditions, and a milk depot somewhat
pom the lines of the one in Rochester.
J. Y, is now in existence.
The Settlement workers invite the
elp. inspection and advice of not only
he doctors of the city, but of all wt<f
re interested in the welfare Of these
umblest and most helpless citizens Of
ur Territory. The depot is not for
ny particular locality OF race. but for