The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-10-26
TO SAVE THE BABIES.
Conference to Be Held to Con-
slider Ways and Means.
CAUSES OF HIGH MORTALITY.

Most Shame Placed on Congestion On
der Unfavorable Conditions as to
Light and Air-Improved Tenements
May Be Solution of Problem.
Apropos of the appalling mortality
among the babies not only In our own
land, but throughout the civilized
world, no single factor can be pointed
out as the primary cause of this bloc
on our modern civilization. The prob
lem and the possibility of its proven
ton are to be considered at special
conference arranged by the American
Academy of Medicine, to be held at
New Haven, Conn, Nov. Ii and IL.
What are regarded as scontributory
causes can be gathered from some OF
the subjects mentioned in the an
nouncement for the meeting. -Four ave-
nues for the introduction of preventive
measures are indicated by the titles of
the sessions-medical, philanthropic,
institutional and educational. Practi-
calIy all causes suggested under these
headings are summarized in the four
mentioned in the section on medical
reventien-congenital debility, insult
able nourishment, improper care and
communicable or infectious diseases.
When it is recalled that the men who,
are in the thick of the fight against
| the needless and unnecessary waste of
baby life assert that the present in
FAINT death rate could be cut in half
by the enactment and rigid enforce
ment of laws requiring the adequate
| inspection of the sources of the milk
supply, coupled with the sanitary in
spection of tanements, the accurate reg
| istration of births and the instruction
of the mothers by visiting nurses or
| other properly accredited representa-
| tives of the local boards Of health, 1t
is readily seen that two very grave
sources of danger are to be found in
the quality of the nourishment fed to
babies and the conditions of the homes
/ themselves. Serious as the problem of
pure milk supply is, it is much less
/ difficult of solution than the more COM
plicated one of housing conditions.
overcrowding a Prime Cause.
One hundred years ago three and
one-third per cent of the population
i OF the United States lived in the cities.
/ Today thirty three and one-third per
j cent of our S5,000Oo0 people are
crowded into the cities. OvercroWd-
ing, the congestion of population in
slum districts. the herding together of
the great unassimilated mass of iinlni
grants in inadequate and fnsanitary
quarters, the selfshness of property
owners, the apathy Of municipal gov
ernments in dealing with situations
which require drastic measures. all
contribute to make this one Of the
most complex us we'll as one of tie
most disheartening factors in the big
problem of the prevention of infant
mortality. According TO recent re.
port, there are 100000 absolutely dark
bedrooms in the city of New York
alone, where humankind, old as well
as young. are supposed TO live and
move and have their being.
| That congestion Of population with
III a given area would not necessslril.
mean the absence of hygienic could
lions was pointed out ret-enlt.3 in
paper by Dr.. Stowell of New lorts
visiting physician to the New yar!
City Children's hospital and scll3u.
AS instances of congestion under fl
vorable and uns.er unf1yarable eaila;
lions he contrasted the iargest apart
ment hotel in New York the .snsslli,
which houses 1.2G:. persons 10 tie
acre. with the netoriotts Cllrrstis
street tenement block. n v III. /
1880 persons are housed II single
acre. The hotel covers Il tot;tI area Of
1.6 acres Of ground. aid horses .2s.tiA
persons i'll $500 rooms. ~ there IT;
sixteen inhabitahie floors the teist
area amounts to alb III invent six
acres, and all of the ruo.-is are pet
to the outside. admitting he sayefei..i
preventives of disease. li.,ht and IL
In the seven years sitace the ni:,r'
was opened not one OF The 4tlU EN-
ployees has become Il victim of III
Il \ Glos H. ttls =
other hand. has hecn = veritabie breed
ing ground for that disease,
1Garden Cities Established.
AS d means Of decreasing the over
wheIming mortality in congested in
dustrial centers the garden city,
like that at Bonneville. near Birning
ham, England, is being established il
some parts OF Great Britain and III oul
own countr.- The removal Of The
manufacturing plant which employs
very large numbers of individuals K
some suburban district and the cree
ton Of cottages with gardens attach
ed for the workers and their families
the establishment If schools and Other
features Of city life and the develop
nlent Of the property along community
lines with the agreement that all inter
est over per cent on the inyestlnen
ehall be devoted to public improve
lnents are features of this plan. :