New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-07
THE BABIES CLINIC
Work of Upto5cn WOmen for Sick
Tenement Children.

IL clinic day at No. Al Leroy street yester-
day the headquarters iG winter Of the Household
Economic Association. but now turned over to the
Board OF Health for its baby saving work. There
were thrty-two mothers there and forty-one babies
and young children.
One woman brought her twentieth child and her
daughter came with grandchild two months old
They were Italians and had been only few weeks
I'm the country. Some brought them to the
clinic soon after they landed, and they were so
frightened that they away four times and were
four times pursued and brought back by the nurse
before they could be induced let the doctor
anime their offspring Now they come and bring
their crochet work
young Italian came with his Wife each one
carrying "a twin. He had been out Of work for
two years. and Mrs Julian Heath president OF the
Household Economic Association. promised to see
If she could find work for him His ordinary occu-
patton, he explained. make the shovel"
But he could do other things. he ventured 10 make
her understand. He had driven an omnibus and
worked In a hotel and did several other things
besides
Most OF the babies were said to be fairly well
ana clean from a tenement point of view and much
more so than similar number OF babies from
similar locality would have been ten years ago
But from the non-tenement standpoint there was
only 'one well baby there. II clean and fresh
as flower Its little body was pink as a rose
petal and its little hands and limbs showed the
relaxation that only from Perfect physical
comfort and mental repose. The mother looked as
well as the baby and young that a nurse asked:
lis this your hrst:'' NO: my slssh.' was the
unexpected reply
There were only three very sick babies in the
group. One had been deserted by It's father seven
months before II was born. and the mother has
since been going out washing, the baby. after II
came. being left with neighbor. Roth mother
ana child were sent 10 Sea Breeze along with
other sick baby and its mother. Both little ones
had marssmus, which is simply polite term for
malnutrition.
Most Of the babies had northumberland troubles.
complaint which gives the doctors and nurses
great deal OF trouble because the mothers can't be
made "a understand the Importance Of not feeding
baby when its little stomach is on strike.
Il told the mothers not to feed their babies for
twenty-four hours" said Or. 7. A Martin after
he had finished his round. but 7 am quite
they'll all he nursed tonight. The mothers think
that because the baby is weak # needs food. and
the more II vomits the more they feed IT,"
There we're some Older children. one little
girl had tendency tuberculosis but wasn't an
enough To be sent to the country. having already
had one outing this summer. the doctors told
her 10 stay on one OF the piers all day.
A pier Is just as good a boat" he said. and
We ought 10 make more use Of the piers than We
do
Ice tickets ard tickets to a branch Of the Diet
Kitchen Association In Barrow street given
TO most OF the women. but there is room for morr
milk than the Diet Kitchen Association is able to
supply. and the Household Economic Association
viii that the deficiency IS made up
the money IS placed IN the hands % It's treasurer
Mrs. Emeyn ". Parsons No West 9lst street
Mrs. Heath has already inspected all the groceries
I'm the neighborhoOd 20 see that they are nat han
ding their foods In such way 90 make the
mothers ~. and in most cases she found the
groceTs very willing 20 follow her suggestions
There is only one clinic dsy n week. and then all
the mothers bring their babies to De weighed, a
ceremony I'm which they take great delight. ON
other days the nurse Mrs Inez Carter. visits The
babies In their homes