The Detroit times., 1911-11-22

ton and took the position that until
III III. Is pnssihle TO have AL ailh for cities
should be pasteurizsd. and In this way
made safe Tor people. Several other In
terestins papers were read and dis
cussed In this section.
la the section on Midwifery a num-
fbcr OF papers were read. all Of which had
10 do with the midwife problem, and the
education OF physicians Ina obstetrics. A
study OF the causes OF infant mortality
shows that OF all children who die un-
der ono year OF age, about one-sixth die
undor twenty-four hours. and this means
that the babies have probably In many
cases not received the proper care at
the hands Of the midwife or attending
physician. The question as TO whether
mtdwives should be abolished or licensed
was discussed. and while no definite posi-
ton was taken by the association in re-
gar6 to this question, II seemed 60 be
the concensus OF opinion that midwives
should be regulated and not abolished.
There are necessary in community.
especially I'm large city, and their
IL ~as suggested by one author that
schools for midwifery be established so
that they can be properly educated In
midwifery. but this suggestion did not
meet with general favor
Tn nearly all sections as we'll as as In
the public meetings which were held In
the evenings. the question OF the care OF
the baby during Its first year OF life was
dWeil upon. ana the Work done IN New
York. and lately In Chicago by the es-
tablishment OF what are known as Lit
tie Mothers Leagues was commended.
In the formation OF these leagues, In
struction Is given 10 the older children in
the public schools; for example the girls
OF the Eighth grade. In the hygiene OF
tho infant, how To battle il. how TO dress
IL. how 10 feed IL, how TO mir Il. in short.
how 10 care for IT, These little mothers.
az they are called tand indeed, they are
mothers hPCAlaQ n N
the care of their younger sisters and
brothers In their homesl. after they have
learned TO care for the baby from com
petent instructors. are made members OF
the Little Mothers Leagues" and are
given badges to indicate their member
ship. The little mothers are very proud
OF these badges and OF what they repre-
sent. This work was taken up in New
York by DR.. s. Josephine Baker. direc-
tor OF Child Hygiene OF the Department
Of Health OF that city and has been
giving instruction TO classes OF girls along
the lines Indicated Since our return
taken up the matter of the formation
Of the little Mothers League" In De-
roit, with several of the visiting nurses
on the Board OF Health STAFF. and we feel
sure that within a month such instTuc-
ton as we have referred to. will he given
TO the girls of Detroit. by our nurses.
under the direct supervision OF DIR. Fran
cts Dufheldl Nearly all OF the other
WotE war TcteTfeu 10 IN the
ing and which needs to be done by a
Health Department for the prevention of
excessive infant mortality Is being done
in this city. but the discussion OF the pa
rers in so thorough n manner impressed
me with the necessity OF enlarging our
work In all the directions indicated.
1T was my pleasure to present to the
association an invitation from the mayor
cf this city and from the Detroit Conven-
ton and Tourists Bureau 20 meet In De-
trOtt next year. but ! learned that the
place OF meeting had been previously de-
cided upon. namely Cleveland. Ohio. The
invitation from Detroit together with that
from Pittsburg was. however. referred
T. the executive committee TO be consid-
cred for the following year, 1913
II Is my pleasure to report further
that the Health Officer OF Detroit, was
elected n member OF the Board OF Di-
rectors of the American Association OF
Infant Mortality al the meeting. held In
Chicago. all OF which is
Respectfully submitted
GUY l.. KIEFER,
Health officer.