New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-06
SAVING INFANT LIVES
Board of Health Expects 1878
Total of 1888 To Be Exceeded.
TO HAVE SIS MILK STATIONS
Success of Experimental Child
Hygiene Work Results in Ap-
preparation of 100000.

Because Of the united efforts OF the diner
ent bodies amalgamated under the head OF
the Association of Infants Milk Stations q
total OF l.1S3 infants under one year Old
were saved In 1911, and 1t is the BELIEF or
the Department of Health that this year
efforts in the same direction VIII be re-
warded by still larger saving In infant
lives.
Last year the department, through the
initiative OF Health Commissioner Lederie
opened fifteen milk stations as an expert
ment. The total cost was $4,000. This year
the department will have fifty-fve stations
in operation, OF which number all but four
are now open. More than 100000 VIII De
available for child hygiene work this year.
The force Of nurses engaged In the Work
of reducing the infant death rate is 49,
employed throughout the year, while nfty-
five additional nurses, who have been doing
work ir the schools, are now working In
conjunction with the others, and Will con-
tnue to do so until November l. Ihey
were assigned to the infant mortality WORK
on May /.
While in the period last year from Janu-
airy / until June IS there was no decrease
IN the number OF deaths OF infants under
one year, by comparison with the CORE
spending months OF the year previous al
ready this year there has been marked
decrease according TO department status
tics, which show a saving Of practically
three hundred lives since January ]. TINS
good showing is indicative, it is contended'
OF the results attendant on a year round
fight against the causes OF infant NOR
tally.
In 1911 there were 5000 deaths OF infants
under one year from all causes. In 1910
there were 1922, while in 1897 there we're
l74S7 deaths at that age.
One of the greatest helps I'm the warfare
on the causes Of infant mortality IL the
Little Mothers League Last year G9
leagues were formed, with total member
ship Of 1900. This year the number VIII
DC greatly in excess Of that OF 1911. Great
enthusiasm and interest are manifested BY
these girls. and weekly meetings are to be
held throughout the summer
The number OF babies under supervision
last year by the department was 1891 Ot
that number 33s2 were attended at their
homes $50 at piers and $500 at clinics. The
number Of visits to babies made by the
nurses reached the huge rotal ~ liz, So.
There were 3ls lectures on the care OF chill
dren given at public schools and the at
tendance at these lectures reached the
5000 mark.
Particular emphasis is placed on the
value Of educational methods 81 dealing
with the causes ~ infant mortality. Thus
every effort is made TO hold consultations
with mothers as 10 the proper care q their
children The number Of mothers Who re-
ceivod individual instruction last year by
Department of Health nurses was 55.7sH.
Health Commissioner Lederle expects
this 10 he the banner year in the saving OF
infants IN this city. The experiment OF last
year proved such a success. and the IA
ciIties are so much greater this year, that
II is expected by the end Of 1912 the good
results will be more marked than ever
Some ~ the organizations associated
with the department in tho reduction OF the
infant mortality rate are the New York
Milk Committee. the Brooklyn Chdren's
Aid Society. the New York Diet Kitchen
Association. the Nathan Straus Pasteurtzed
Milk Laboratories. the Babies Diaries, the
Noruiucsido MIX Dispensares. the
Nurses Settlement and the Good Samari-
tan Dispensary
There are nincty-two day nurseries In
this city whore children from three 10 six
month. old are kept while their mothers
are employed. These nurseries are under
strict surveillance by the department, and
az class they are in excellent sanitary
condition The day nurseries are another
definite aid in the welfare of the children.
the department believes.
All institutions harboring dependent
children are visited regularly by inspectors
of the division Of child hygiene. There are
sixty-h,o such institutions in the city