New-York tribune., 1909-11-12
INFANT MORTALITY
PHYSICIANS CONFER.
Pre0enfion Discussed al Ma
iiondl Gathering.

,ssw HsVsn, Nov. Il Special. .-Practising
physicians, representative OF the most i'm
pcrtant medical schools a. the country
~6ucators and social workers assembled
here to-day % take part IN the conference
arranged By the American Academy of
Medicine on Prevention Of Infant Mortal
sfv. which win continue TIVE days Prssi-
ssnt Arthur 2 Hadlsv - Vale welcomed
rhs deleEstss, snd lir. " Blair Stewart
- Atlantic CITY, responded for the confer
sncs.
The principal speaker ar to-dsy's ses-
siens % the conference were Or J. IL
Mason KNOX. associate in pediatrics st tie
Iehns Hopkins Medical school. uho dis
cusse6 ths relstion' of alcoholism 20 infa,t
-rartaliry. DT- Clemens Won Pirauet for
nIsriy q Vienna, aud new OF ths Johns
Hepkins Medical School. Eho spoke or the
r-lstion q tuberculosis te infant mortality.
~. Carol,ne HedEer. of the Chicago United
Chsriues, on the relation % mothers eocu-
pstlons 20 Infant mertalir.r. and Dr. J. 2
croser Gritfith, CT the University Of Penn
sylFsnis. who discussed tire eject of diet
On infant mortality. othsr speakers were
u Ahoe Weld Tsliant, % Fhiladeiph.a.
rF J Madison Tsyior. Dr. r A Crau-
hart hr. Alice Hamilton snd Dr' Charles
hiohneho Hepssrson, OF Chicago. Dr.
Knox sad.
AEaong The factors directly and Indirect
o. destructive ~ TIE life OF the infants -
Tins country and IN most civilized cciir,-
fries, - acute and chronic alcoholism OF
fhe psrenrs The lowered vitality OF me
parents consequent upon tbe habitual use
~ alcohol has a. direct effecT on the vital
ny ~ the child. II alcohol is INDUCED ia
N arse quantities hy The eXpectant
mother, = n1n he apparent IN a lowered
vitality of the child. The individual effect
~ chronic alcoholism in the home on the
life of the young chic Is T. weaken ifs
T'oRers of resistance 10 disease. and rs d.
qrlkf NJ Or fhr right which every child
should have for nermai. healthy EXIST
ence.
~. hsdser gave figures from reports Of
frglisa and American investieators show
ing q aehnits relation between rh- child
dsath Fate and the occupation of Ire
Hlther she also save figures from other
sources tending to snow that tile opposite
was true. she suggested shortening tie
hours cf eFuploymsrt ard better sanitation.
Dr. Tailaut recommended more general IN
srrucuon 0f the mother in hySiene
ffs entire separation II i-fants from per
so..s Ehe are tubeTcuious. even from their
parents l. the latter are suffering from
fhr disease. "a es recomne10od a. the con
ference by LT. Pirquet. Children infected
0uring the hrst yesF of HE nearly always
ci- from tuberculosis, he said Dr. Pir-
quef vas associated with the Escherich
clinic Tor The Diseases Of children ir the
University of Vienna, before coming 10
America Aie was one ef the hrsr investi-
gators 20 test the presence cf tuberculosis
'o children by fhe Use ~ tElefcu.n ap-
piled cUlaHfousIv
d. his discussion - fhe relation ~ Giet
o. the death rate amshg children Dr.
eriftlth commented on the fact that the
excessive mortality ~ early Hfe occurred
rrircipsliy in srtihciany fed children and
"as due chiefly 60 diaFfhaal disturbance
he spoke 81 the dinicuity of obtaining a
suiis bie ertIh. 80 milk, a,.d declared tnat
fhf mortality could be- largely prevented
uy maternal nursing
tr. Henderson gave tne conference re-
Fort ef his spscisl study ef c.-RditisHz an
4'rsnce and on the Continent. He said.
Al important French institution is = die
Sftnsa-y in which the physician examines
lslies and teaches mothers ulul the C1iri-
csI period ~ infancy nae been PASSED. The
rIuCllon cf the GaE nursery is a. care for
ana alec T. Train uurkifui mothers in oc-
ia tons ana fhe proper caring Of the
C.iId. The French autno.it-es insist that
...- Tlnf ner, when possible, shall give Latu-
ral food. snd in faf auseAce oi an ade-
u-ate supply. shah be- helped % provide
pa-s mix. sf@riiized when necessity, or
arIpro. 90 SUBSTITUTES
This pcliey must Include. said Dr Hen
llFsUn. 4 measure ~ public control and
ga uecri1t. prosecution Of criminal neglect
--l ststious scr cheap or free milk. the
care ~ sick or feeble irfaEts al home or
- visiting nurses and also III dispensaries
a. hospitals.