Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-02

49, the past lew luUut1IS u
school for the instruction Of
XAA mothers has been established
" in Washington. To the un-
initiated this branch Of In
struction Is more or less Of a mystery,
but a mother-in any station Of hfe-need
only consider for moment how abb
solutely necessary is some sort of medi-
cal advice as to the care of her child,
and she will appreciate the value Of such
a school. There are In the city many
mothers VINO spend their days away from
home and the little ones, busily engaged
In earning bare living and unable to
give more than an hour or two IN
twenty-four to the care OF their babies
The children of these mothers must be
left to the care of some relative, or
often in the charge OF child, not yer
in her teens who has little or no knoWi-
edge of a health-giving treatment Tor
baby. Then, again, there are mothers
who find time to care for their babies,
but are ignorant Of any sanitary rules.
It is for these mothers whose pocket
books will not permit the purcnasing OF
medical advice that a philanthropy
course of instruction has been PROVIDED
here in Washington. This school was
created and is carried on by George ~.
Oyster, jr., of this city. and ITS success
may be determined by the t nvar 's 200
mothers have been enrolled, and the rec
ord Of their progress is bright IN Ms
promising examples. Perhaps the ereal
est handicap in this work Is the 1act that
the majority Of mothers It tries " syaon
are. in their ignorance, almost unwlilng
to take the trouble" and pront py the
instructions for a more sanitary care Oh
the helpless little ones.
*
There is an old adage to the erect
that one-half of the world is ignorant
Of how the other half lives Inc lrutn "
this statement might be impressed upon
the average well-to-do mother should she
ackompany one of the three nurses en-
ployed in this work on her daily ROUNDS
to the homes of mothers in compare
lively lowly station in life. This average
mother usually pictures baDv careu
for as she cares for hers-cuddled IN q
soft crib and clothed in warm dainty
clothing that she has had the time ano
means of preparing. Wholesome and
well prepared food has made plump
cheeks and roly-poly little body for this
baby OF the average mother, just as the
lack of this sort of food produces tue
opposite effect upon the children OF the
regard to the babies of these more un-
fortunate mothers in direct contrast with
the environments of her own little one.
There is no daily attendance IN TINS
"school for mothers for these mothers
find their days so well filled with work
that such regular attendance is impos-
sible. There are, however, couple o!
hours put by each week for lectures al
various stated charitable institutions
throughout the city. Physicians and
well informed men speak on the care of
the baby to the mothers and children
In attendance at these meetings. But
many of the mothers are unable to spare
even these few hours away from home,
come to them.
This branch of the work is carried on
by the nurses In Mr. Oysters employ.
Every day each of these nurses visits
in connection with the philanthropic milk
stations established by Mr.. Oyster
throughout the city. The sanitary care
of the bottles and milk and the enforce
the mothers at these milk stations Is the
main topic Of instruction taught by the
nurses in the homes.
There are philanthropic milk stations at
the Chiidren's Hospital, the Noel House.
the Social Settlement, the Neighborhood
House and the Friendship House. At each
Of these places physician is in regular
attendance for three or four hours each
day, offering his services without any ma
terial return. He prescribes the proper
milk and medicine for the infants. all
of which Is furnished free Of charge to
the mothers who are unable to pay.
Perhaps II one might start out with
one of the many mothers whose babies
are sickly a more general idea Of the
work accomplished might be obtained.
This mother has perhaps heard of the
milk and medical advice to be obtained at
the nearest of these stations. and there
she journeys on any day of the week. for