The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-07-19

Chicago, Ill. July 10. r Advanced
prices of the Ice Trust and official
reports Of growing infant death rate
that contracts alarmingIy with Chi
cago's general mortality record has set
the angels Of the slums at work on a
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 milk-in fact, Health Commission
er w. A. Evans has the greatest diff
Guilty In keeping down the quantities
Of sauerkraut, corned 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
geeting 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 Il. Mcdowell and the visiting
nurses Of the United Charities and
the other works Mrs Falenstein is
member Of a committee which is
trying to secure from the city In lieu
OF ice a quantity of so-called thermos
bottles which by the vacuum principle
maintain milk at an even temperature
for 72 hours. a period that in hot
tenements and their lack of ice
boxes would require a dozen times
the amount Of ice that the mothers
can buy at present prices. DR.. l. A.
Abt, medical advisor to the infant
welfare committee, is having a care
full test and bacteria court made of
milk put into these bottles. Commits
sioner Evans is also investigating, for
the possible solution means much in
practical relief OF conditions among
the babies. The recent victory of the
present ordinance requiring pasteuriz-
ing of all milk promises some relief
and science is called upon as never
before to help save the babies
The death rate among babies has
Increased 2 per cent this year and
last year a third of the citys death |
were babies, 10 per cent of them less
than two years old. A sixth Of the
total was the record of midsummer,
July. August and September. Figuree
in money only. the cost is enormous
"a pitiful and portentious waste
for every little funeral costs at least
$50 and that is staggering debt in
a tenement house. Even economical
", any means to lessen the infant
death rate will be a great saving.
The icing problem, so long the
bane Of the shipper Of perishable
commodities of merchants and of
housewives is the nightmare of the
mother in the slums." declared Mrs.
Falkenstein. Science has bestirred
itself to find an adaptable. convenient,
economical substitute for ice. | am
experimenting in my house and in
several of the poor families under my
wing with vacuum bottles, for | be-
lieve that there lies the release OF
many an infant from the death-dealing
powers of soured and tained milk.
No one who does not know the condi.
tions Of these tenements realizes
what work among them means. And
a single death in family even with
its cheap little funeral. leaves an ap-
palling burden on the little family,
for $50 is huge debt when your
wages are but Sc or IS a week, and
when there are other little ones to
feed and to clothe.T
Miss Mary Mcdowell, head of the
University Of Chicago settlement
house and one of the most widely