New-York tribune., 1910-07-17
ROCK SAVES BABY LIVES
Manhattan'S Foundation Chief
Reason for Low Death Rate
SOIL a MENACE ELSEWHERE
Report on Infantile Mortality by
Brooklyn Doctor Gives In
struction to Mothers.

Why more babies die in Brooklyn than IN
Manhattan and why there is less infantile
mortality in Manhattan than in any OF the
other four boroughs Of the city is the sub
iect of 2 report made by DR.. lie Grand
Kerr. visiting pediatrist 70 several Brook
Ivn hospitals to Health Commissioner
Lederle. The report. with those of three
other Brooklyn physicians, has been pub
Hshed in pamphlet form. DR.. Kerr advises
mothers and discusses preventive methods
Dr. Kerr believes that where the soil is
loose infantile mortality is likely to be high,
and this influence is enhanced if the soil is
polluted
Where there Is little loose material upon
the surface the mortality from diarrhoea is
proportionately low, in spite Of the exist
ence Of other factors which are not favor
able to the infant SAYS DR.. Kerr.
This, I believe is one of the most i'm
portant reasons If not the chief reason why
the infantile diarrhoeaI mortality is less in
the Borough Of Manhattan than in the other
four boroughs,
Manhattan Island is nearly all rock. It's
formation makes the matter Of the prompt
and efficient disposal of sewage into the
Hudson and East rivers 2 matter Of com
para tive ease Here, then, are two ele-
ments in which Manhattan has an advan-
tage-suitable soil and efficient sewerage"
Dr.. Kerr also considers that Manhattan
has an advantage in its numerous agencies
for the care Of small children, and these
are so efficient, he says, that sick infants
are quickly sent away from the borough
and placed in the best possible surround
inss for recovery. On the other hand, he
writes, If these infants die the mortality
Ey-+
against the place to which they are sent.
On the causes of the increased number Of
deaths at this season OF the year DR.. Kerr
says: a prolonged high temperature
favors the growth OF infective bacteria and
the process of decomposition; but ire
spective OF the direct effect upon the milk,
a prolonged high temperature favors the
collection of dust. and therefore its intro
duction into and upon food, and each par
ticIe may be the aeroplane for some or
ganism.'
For the improvement of present condi-
tions DR.. Kerr makes several suggestions.
He says:
There are two important problems in
connection with infant feeding, and when
they are solved the excessive infant NOR
tality of the summer will disappear. The
first is the devising Of some simple rules
for adjusting the food TO the digestive re
uuirements of fnfants-not infants in gen
eral, but to the particular needs of the in
dividual infant. The second problem Is
that of teaching the mothers, especially
among the poor, how TO carry out simple
directions for the preparation and preserva-
ton of their babies food Now, as there is
no food so good for the child as mothers
milk. we should insist that every mother
must nurse her child if able to do so.
everything else is gross negligence Of duty
on her part
Dr.. Kerr asserts that what is really
necessary is that each hospital and dis
pensary for babies have one or more nurses
who can go 10 the homes and actually show
the mothers what they should do. He
would have the mother report at stated In
tervals at the dispensary. where the child
should be weighed and a record kept