New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-16
BABY DEATH RATE FALLS
Proper Food and Education OF
Mothers Causes, Expert Says.
MANY AGENCIES HELPING
School and Apartment House
Roofs Should Be Made Useful,
DR.. Josephine Baker Says.

Since July 1 when the intense heat be-
gan. TO July Is 70S babies under one year
old have died in New York City. as COM
pared with zoos for the first two weeks IN
July. 1910. al which time the heat though
great. was below that of the correspond
ing period in 1911. In view of the remark
able decrease, it was said at the Health
Department yesterday that the effect OF the
concerted action against the causes of in
FAINT mortality was now really showing IT.
self The Health Department considered
atself only one OF many agencies In the
city which have contributed TO the sue
cessful warfare on the causes of high In
Sant mortality.
For the week ending July Is there were
$50 deaths from all causes, under one
year, as compared with SOS for the same
week in 1910 There were Jas deaths from
intestinal diseases under one year. as
against 1863 for the corresponding periou
last year. From January TO July 10 there
have been a total OF s,04S deaths from Ill
causes of infants under one year. as
against $3.50 for the corresponding time IN
1910.
But the remarkable showing" said Dr.
Josephine Baker head OF the child hygiene
bureau Of the department, should serve 10
spur on all the forces working Tor 10"
mortality rate. 1t is now shown IN con-
crete form what educational propaganda
and proper food can do toward reducing
the mortality among children. and IL Is
now up 70 every agency TO continue 10 do
what has been done.
Food. however. is only one OF many
things needed to combat successfully the
infant diseases. Fresh air and proper
treatment are just as essential. The In
struction Of mothers has met with success
The mothers themselves have seemed TO be
eager 10 grasp the things said 10 them.
According 20 DR.. Baker the months OF
July and August show the highest mortal
ity rate among infants, and special pre-
cautions should be taken by allvmothers 70
guard carefully the health Of the babes
during the heated term.
Mothers should take their babies to the
milk stations TO TO obtain pure milk ana
10 have the services of nurse and doc
tor. who will show them how TO keep the
baby we'll II any baby is sick and the
parents are unable 10 pay physician or
nurse a telephone message 10 the Health
Department will secure the services Tree
Of both"
DR.. Baker wants TO lay before members
of the Board of Education plan whereby
the roofs Of the five hundred or more
schools in this city can be opened TO chill
dren and TO mothers and babies.
"Thjnk how valuable space is in New
York" said DR. Baker, and yet all the
thousands OF feet of space on top OF the
many schools Of the city are not used FOR
ANYTHING. The Fairgrounds and the parks
provide space for a great number, but why
not place awnings oyer the roofs of the
schools and open them all the summer long.
so mothers and babies can get there TO
keep cool? The sun-baked streets are full
Of children. while the roofs Of the build
tngs are entirely empty.
The head of the child hygiene bureau
thinks also that the roofs Of apartment
houses and fathouses should be provided
with protecting fences and then devoted
10 sites for the children. In some cases she
believes tenants would be willing TO chip
,n" and tuy awnings II the owners Of the
houses would only erect the necessary
fences
81 want TO say again, however" con-
tlnued DR.. Baker. that because most
decided advance has been made, even In
the face Of the worst weather possible. IT
IS no time to be idle. All the agencies in
the fight on infant mortality should real
ize that the thing to do is to press forward
and not stop at such crucial time"
Had the weather been favorable the
showing would not have been so remark
able she said, but with the worst heat OF
the summer at hand there was a greater
decrease than at any time in the fight
against the causes OF infant deaths.