Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-02
Teaching Mothers to Care for Their Babies

these stations are open every afternoon.
In each of them is a little compartment
screened of from the rest and fitted up
with chairs and scale for weighing the
clothing, and in some cases this means
simply removing rags and disclosing to
view q tiny half-starved body with limbs
scarcely larger than ones two myers.
The doctor in attendance then examines
the baby and prescrfbes the proper medt.
cine and milk required.
A record is made and baby is allotted so
much Of the prescribed milk, to be called
for each day at the station. The name
of the mother and father and their re-
spective occupations. addresses and In
comes are put on file. A record Is made
Of the number Of other children in the
close inquiry into the family Of the baby
is to prevent any frauds. If 1t is found
that the income of a family raises II
above charity, the milk for the baby is
sold to it at reduced prices, thus re-
serving charity for those who absolutely
need it.
Each day the mother sends for her
milk and endeavors to follow out the In
structions given by the doctor. Then the
work of the nurse begins. for it. is her
duty to visit the homes and see that the
physicians orders are carried out. Many
and varied are the experiences OF these
nurses while visiting. They meet with
humorous as we'll as pathetic medicines.
To reach the baby the nurse must often
climb a dark narrow flight Of stairs or
pass through tiny passage into the
kitchen, living room and general meetlng
place for the whole family and baby
sleeping room in the daytime.
X X
A ring at the bell or knock at the
door often means to these people the un-
welcome visit Of the collector. and tue
nurse must make herself known In some
way or walk right in after giving warning
Of her presence. Often her visits are not
looked upon with much pleasure by some
of the more indolent and careless moth
ers, for if the baby and his belongings
are not properly cared for the nurse must
know the reason why. On one occasion
a nurse raped at the door of one or the
homes on her list and after waiting
few minutes raped again rain, At TINS ni Iee
up: Say, ma. It's the milk lady, snail
l let her IMP
When the nurse finally gains admission
into home she begins making ooserva.
considera ton is the cleanliness of the sur
roundings. She then examines the con
struction of the floors, the walls ana tne
ceiling. Provision for sunlight and pure
air: for cold and hot water; FOR neat III
winter and ice in summer: and for pro-
lection from dust and flies are the next
things attended to. She then ascertalns
the number of sleeping rooms and now
many occupy the same room with the
baby. What food or drink is given to
the infant other than the milk provided
at the station is determined. She IN.
structs the mothers in the protection OF
this milk and in the cleaning OF the run
Der nipples These latter must De kept
in solution of boric acid or bread SODA.
The history of the baby from It's birth TO
the present date is then obtained.
Every two weeks the baby must De
brought to the station to be weighed and
examined, and the mother receives lur-
Their instructions regarding its health
And such a collection Of babies 1t Is. too.
on weighing days! There are tat babies
and pitifully thin babies; in some OF the
stations they are black and IN others
white, and all of them either smiling or
crying Some Of them whimper when
their clothes are stripped off and they are
dumped unceremoniously into the scales.
but others seem to find it an occasion for
a good deal of mirth and Growing.
X
There was quite an amusing incident of
the happy state of one little colored baby
on a recent weighing day. The nurse
at the station was just remarking to a
visitor that the majority Of babies under
the treatment were more or less young
and helpless. 1t was at this moment
that tiny voice from behind the screen
began: ''Tum over hyar, tum over hyar,'
and there, bouncing up and down in the
scales. was the roly-poly little rascal
singing "Alexander's Ragtime Band" to
the best of his infantile ability.
Another branch of the instruction for
the mothers is afforded by the meetings
held once a week at the various stations
Children from six to sixteen, as well as
the mothers. attend these meetings.
The instruction given by means Of
prepared lectures is beneficial to both,
for these little people often have as much
responsibility in the care of the baby
as do the mothers. This series of lee