El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-04-16
THAT a tremendous difference in
H. birth ro-n and infant rnnr- !

THAT a tremendous difference in
the birth rate and infant NOR
tally rate exists among the
wealthy and the extreme poor; that a
great number of the thousands of need
less infants deaths which occur an
nuaIly take place in the congested quar-
tiers of New York city; and that these
conditions spring from sheer ignorance.
easily preventable) on the mothers
part-these are the significant results of
an investigation made recently by the
New York milk committee
The committees investigation grew
out of a desire to ascertain what per-
centage of the $1,000 deaths which oc-
cur annually in New York city are found
respectively among the rich, the middle
class, and the poor
Three sections Of the city were in
cluded-one of 2S blocks. comprising a
fashionable residential district in the
neighborhood of Fifth avenue. Madison
avenue and. Central Park: the second Of
five blocks comprising a middle class
residential district in the neighborhood
of 734th street and LenoX avenue;
third of three densely populated blocks.
comprising a typical tenement house
district, bounded by Avenue A, East
74th street, First avenue and East 72nd
street.
Births Among Poor.
these various areas was approximately
the same In the % fashionable blocks
there were 1861 residents, in the five
middle class blocks there were 1896, and
in the three tenement blocks there were
1856. The number of births recorded In
these blocks in 1907. however, varied
very widely. In the % fashionable
whereas in the five middle class blocks
$50 babies were born, and in the three
tenement blocks 434 babies were born.
In other words IL times as many ba-
bies were reported as born in three
tenement blocks among the poor as were
born in IS fashionable uptown blocks
Knowias that the greatest danger to
infants exists at the time of greatest
heat. the milk committee, at the sug
gestion of DIR. L. Emmett Holt, selected
a period of IA days. of which the first
seven comprised the hottest week OF
1907 In this way not only the imme-
date but the after effect of period
of excessive heat was observed-some-
thing that is rarely done The average
mean temperature Of the first week
from July Is TO July "a, was 1876 de-
grees
In the three tenement house blocks 16
deaths, or percent of the total num-
Der of infants known to have been born
during the year died during the two
during the first week and
seven during the second. Had similar
death rate prevailed throughout the rest
of the year the mortality would have
been more than 100 percent.
Deaths Among Infants.
In the four middle class blocks and in
the rs wealthy residential blocks of APP
the same population no
deaths were recorded. These facts tell
their own story. The probable absence
for The summer of most of the wealthy
mothers and many of the middle class
mothers cannot be considered. as FAC
tors in the case. because the ability to
leave a hot city and thus avoid prln-
cipal cause of infants death-(like the
ability to employ infant specialists,
trained nurses etc. lis n purely eco
nomic advantage Light. air, sanitary
and proper nourishment.
are all factors in the reduction of in
FAINT mortality The lack of the means
to purchase these commodities spells
disability and death.
For the wealthy mother, expert knowl-
edge on all matters affecting the life
of her little one is available Infant
specialists prescribe an exact diet;
trained nurses administer and super
wise: in all details of the babys growth
she is supported by the best counsel ana
advice If the child of the wealthy
mother does DOOTlN OF uIce, II 10 UtNdHSc
scientific knowledge has failed, not be-
cause that knowledge has been unavail- /
able
In the case of middle class mothers, !
tht handicaps are perhaps greater as
these mothers lacking the means 70 |
avail themselves of expert knowledge, |
are obliged to rely upon less trained I
and to seek Information from |
sources that often prove untrustworthy- !
Bur because, these mothers have as a |
rule, more children than the wealthy, !
and because being free from heavy So
cial demands, they can give the, chill
dren more personal care and attention.
they acquire a certain experience and
knowledge which is handed down from
10 generation and which,
to large degree, tends TO offset the adj
vantage of purchased knowledge Of an
expensive character.
Timely Word Would Save Baby.
1t is among the mothers Of the lower
strata of society that the need for in
creased knowledge on infant feeding, |
infant hygiene and matters pertaining