The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-06


bIes born In this city during 1909 will
die before they are year old.
That for every Ave or six births
there is one funeral? That one baby
out of Ave In Detroit will suffer and
sicken and die before your eyes during
the first year OF his life?
This is an astounding thing. The
worst OF II is that II is true. You can
verify the figures at the city health
ONCE.
n But there is one worst thing. II is
this:
vented. Half Of them, anyhow. May
be two-thirds.
DO YOU realize what this means? II
4 you are a mother or a father you Will.
II you see the grim figure OF death
stalking down your street, counting
one. two, three, four, hve-taking one
newborn baby In fve-stopping per-
haps at your house perhaps next door.
you'll realize all right what It means.
To the people who have to fight
daily to keep the wolf from the door
listen. II Is your babies who will be
FIRST to go.
To the people who have money
enough or more than enough-listen.
To you, II you knew II, Is a priceless
blessing and Joy waiting-the JOY or
saving babies. lives.
II costs $l66 year to raise a
baby.
That means much to you who don't
have 1t.
That means much to you who have
more than that, and can help your
neighbors, one In every five OF whom
will be laid low In the bitterest sor-
row the heart knows during 1909.
What is needed to save the babies
In our city?
Knowledge-the knowing what to
do-how to take care of them and feed
them. the bath, the ventilation, the
rest and expert care.
Knowledge-the knowledge Of doc
4 tors and trained nurses-of nurses
who will be more than nurses--who
will be home experts-doctors who
will be lovers OF humanity
And good milk. which means every
thing to the baby--lack of which kills
more babies annually than all other
causes combined.
Also S166. This to pay the doctor
and the nurse when the family can
| not-as. God help them. many famil-
! les cannot. Money to get clean milk
! and good food and comfortable cloth
1 Ing and fresh air and ice.
Oh, yes. there Is one more thing
the most important thing. We almost
forgot. II Is love.
Love will save them. Love for hui
| mainly. Love for your neighbor. Love
| for your neighbours children.
For they are all your neighbors. Re-
member that
II you will help and you and you
then this year there won't be half as
many little white caskets borne
| through the streets OF Detroit this
year-not half as many white ribbons
on doors telling the story of broken
hearts within.
Love in this great cause will mean
effort--concerted. intelligent effort by
municipal forces, reinforced by char
table organizations and by individ-
uals who will give their money for
the Joy OF saving babies lives That's
where you will come in-you who love
your neighbor as yourself.
For the sake of Detroit babies
the editor OF The Times has gathered
kfor this and succeeding articles some
important facts. and In this investiga-
ton 1t was found that the city of New
York Is the shining example OF this
kindest and gentlest OF philanthropies.
Led by such men as Nathan Straus,
millionaire humanitarian, they have
been at II for several years there. TO
know what they have done. and are
doing, Is to help us to know what we
can and should do.
Thirty babies out Of every hundred
used to die In New York before they
were a year old.
Now only IL of them die during the
first year,
ITO the firing line for the babies
is the loudest slogan In philanthropy
In the metropolis this year
II can take a crew OF experts into
any city In the country" says MIR.
Strausu, who has spent millions In the
cause, land cut down it's death rate
among babies by one-half-perhaps
two-thirds"
"wny don't you do it," he was
asked.
Money" was the reply Money is
all I need. II would be easier, II |
had tho money. TO go to these cities
and do IL. than to stand here and tell
you how
In Minneapolis Is babies out OF 100
live less than year. In Chicago
more than twenty die. In Buffalo ev.
cry fifth birth means a funeral with.
|. in the year. Cleveland loses one-hfth
of its babies. Fall River. Mass, loses
20 out OF a hundred-every 10 births