The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1909-07-23

Chicago, ILL.,, July l9. = Advanced /
prices OF the ice Trust" and official
reports Of a growing infant death rate
that contracts alarmingly with Chi.
cago's general mortality record has set
the angels Of the slums at work on Q
new problem; How to cool milk
without ice"
The city council has taken up the
baby's case and appropriated $4,000
for relief and remedial work by the in.
fant welfare committee of the United
Charities. But 10000 Chicago babies
live IN reeking slums, in homes Of dire
poverty. filth, ignorance and don't get
good mill--in fact, Health Commission.
er w. A. Evans has the greatest diff
Guilty in keeping down the quantities
of sauerkraut, cogned beef, whisky,
beer, coffee and roast pork that is fed
mere infants from "a hours to "a
months old. Pure milk, properly cool
ed and protected from germs, flies and
dirt is the need, but the problem of
geetng It this summer in the face of
higher costs and the increase of babies
has just about stumped Dr. Evans,
Mrs. Esther Falkenstein, who is strug-
Cling in constant need Of funds at the
Falkenstein settlement house, Miss
Mary E. Mcdowell and the visiting
nurses Of the United Charities and
the other works. Mrs. Falenstein is
member Of committee which is
trying to secnre from the city IN lieu
of ~ q quantity Of so-called thermos
bottles which by the vacuum principle
maintain max at an even temperature
for III hours. a period that IN hot
tenaments nnd their lack Of Ice
boxes would require a dozen times
the amount of ice that the mothers
can buy ct present prices Or !. A.
Abt medical advisor to the Infant
welfare committee. Is having a care
ful test and bacteria court made OF
milk pat into these bottles. Commits
sioner Evans is also investigating, for
the possible solution means much in
practical relief OF conditions among
the habies. The recent victory of the
present ordinance requiring pasteuriz.
ing of al milk promises some relief
and science is called upon as never
befoue to help save the babies.
The death rate among babies has
Increased 2 per cent this year and
last year third Of the city's death
were babies. 20 per cent OF them less
than two years old. A sixth Of the
total was the ecord OF midsummer.
July. August and September. Figu,
In money only. the cost is enormous
IA pitiful and portentious waste
for every little funeral costs at least
$50 ana that is a staggering debt in
a tenement house Even economical
b. any means to lessen the iufant
daath rms will be a great saving.
tie icing problem. SO long the
lssae Of talse shipper OF perishable
commodities OF merchants and oi
homewives Is the nightmare of the
maiaer In the sIums.' declared Mrs
Fallanstain Science has bestirred
itself TO find an adaptable. convenient
euonauuica Substitute for ice. am
experimenting IN my house and Ia
several OF the poor families under my
wing with vaeuum bottles. for ! be.
iEeee tlad ithaRe lies the release 0i
many a. fnfant fs0m the death-dealins
lp0vers 81 aounan and tanned milk
No one wae does not know the condi
tions Of these aenements realizes
what work among tham means And
q single death IL q Family even with
its cheap little flneral leaves an ap-
palIing burden on the little family
for so is 3 huge debt when your
wages are bat Sc o. s. a week. and
when there are other little ones to
feed and to elothe."
Miss Mary Mcdowell. head OF the
University Of Chicago settlement
house and one OF the most widely
known and highly sailed sociological
workers on the continent, 81 another
woman who shakes her head over the
infant mortality records. Like Mrs
Falkenstein. Miss Mcdowell IL in a
position to know For the children IN
the tenements die like aies. rs IN one
day; IN one week. 1856: IN one month,
s07 footing up to the approximate
total o. 10000 infant burlals in one
year, because these helpless ones were
denied the barest demands Of exist.
enec
The sQuaior with which these crusa.
an~e ss4*sak Mseh4 thn tsm~wmr.ma tt.A.,