Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-22
TOO MANY BABES DIE
Half of 100000 Who Perish
Yearly Could Be Saved.
ADDRESS BY DR.. KNOX
Expert Before Charities and Cor
rections Conference.
CARE OF HALF IMBECILE GIRLS
DR.. w. N. Billiard of Boston Advo-
Gates Segregation to Prevent
Propagation.
ADDRESS BY DR.. KNOX
CARE OF HALF IMBECILE GIRLS

to the National Conference OF Charities
and Correction arrived today. and swell
ed the registered attendance at LOCO
The five sectional meetings this morn
ing discussed the general topic OF Chill
dren." The largest delegation present
is from Massachusetts, the number eX-
ceeding eighty
On the second ballot the time and
place committee selected Boston for the
1911 meeting. 1t is expected the next an
nual convention will begin June 10.
Excessive Infant Mortality.
Nearly 100000 babies under one year
of age die every year in the United
States, according to Il statement made
by DR.. J. II. Mason Knox, jr.. associate
professor of pediatrics in the Johns Hop
kins Medical School of Baltimore. What
was more startling than these figures
was his further statement that with
proper care probably one-half of these
deaths could be prevented. DIR. Knox
said in part:
a most significant feature of the civic
life of our generation is the development
of the idea CT neighborliness. The two
fundamental elements in this relationship
are real need and adequate help. No
class in our community needs the minis
tration of a true neighbor more than the
baby.
Half Need Not Perish.
There are about 100000 infants in
the country under twelve months of age,
and about one-ffth of this number are
expected to die within year. Probably
one-half of these infant deaths could be
avoided.
about 100000 babies die each year
from one of three causeS-prematurity,
gastro-intestinal disorder and pulmonary
disease.
THE effort to save the baby must be
made through its natural protector, its
mother: Her interest can be easily
aroused She often needs instruction.
'tShe must have placed within her
means good milk when her own fails.
Milk dispensaries are invaluable
High Grade" Imbecile Girls.
Attention was called by Dr. William
y. Billiard of Boston, Mass, in an adj
dress on the state Care of High Grade
Imbecie Girls to the great public eX-
pense occasioned by the lack of proper
care given to an immense number of girls
who are just below the lower grades of
normal children, and yet who are not
clearly imbecile.
as rule become mothers of at least
three children each. Most of these chill
dren are themselves feeble-minded. and
ultimately a charge on the state; the
mothers lack a sense of responsibility
for present acts, or the realization of
their effect on future events.
Proper Care Suggested.
1.-The proper method of dealing with this
class" said DR.. Billiard, lis to keep them
in custodial department of an institu-
ton for the feeble-minded and where they
can be managed by those who have ex-
perience with the mentally defective. This
care must be exercised by the state.
'In exactly what form this can he
done best depends upon the special condi-
lions in each state. their methods of car
ing for pauperS, criminals ana detectives
and the special means at their disposal.
These cases should, however, never be
treated or cared for criminals. They
are usually released, only to undergo a
second imprisonment and meantime to
have done much evil to society,"
Epileptics Hard to Minister To.
In an address on public care for the
epileptic this morning DR.. j Z. Munson,
resident pathologist Of the Craig colony
for epileptics at Sonyea. y. Y. made a
careful analysis OF the ne HNeu pS the
average victim of epilepsy and urged that
every state should make adequate pro-
vision for the treatment and humane care
of this class of dependents.
"Experience shows and humanity and
reason teach,' said DR.. MunSon, that
the epileptic should not be classified with
other state charges. The epileptic is in
variably the most difficult of all state
charges to deal with
..The ideal Institution for epileptics diff
fers much from ideal hospitals for the in
sane or the ideal home for the feeble
minded 1t must be recognized that cpl
lepsy is a relatively incurable disease.
Farm colonies seem to be ideal for
t'I,eir care Out-of-door labor is most IA
vorable for the disease and the farm it
self offers chances of profit from their
work.