The Washington times., 1913-06-21
BABIES MORTALITY
IS STUDY OF BUREAU
Much Has Been Accomplished
BY Federal Board Under
Miss Julia C. Lathrop.

An efficient system Of keeping book
with respect to humanity is one Of tn.
chief aims Of the Children's Bureau oi
/ the Federal Government. according tc
Miss Julia c. Lathrop. who 10 the head
Of the bureau. One Of the most i'm
portant features Of the bureaus work
10 that Of a study OF the great problem
Of child mortality.
The bureau is not yet q year old, but
already much important work has been
done Studies into the saving Of the
lives Of children have been IN progress
for some months and much progress
has been made in these studies. 1t is
the idea Of Miss Lathrop that II condi-
.tions can be improved so as to save
lives Of babies. large contribution will
have been made to the general welfare.
The Census Bureau estimates the
number Of children that die In this
one year at s0oo annually. The figures
as to this awful mortality are based on
returns from eight States, which have
exact records Of births and deaths
Neglect Means.
Expert sanitarians estimate half this
number at least could be saved II means
already at hand but neglected, were
utilized. It was with recognition Of
these facts that the Children's Bureau
began a study Of infant mortality. It
was determined to make studies In some
OF the smaller cities because the Child
rtn's Bureau has not the money for
going into the work .1.s.s on great S scale. ss
ready been given by various activities
to the great cities.
The Children's Bureau has about COM
pleted the first Of its series Of studies
into infant mortality. The effort has
been made to learn the number OF
children born In a given year and then
trace the progress Of each child through
the first year of life, or such part Of
the year as the child survived.
It is stated BY Miss Lathrop that the
gratifying, and that from many sources
cooperation has come in aiding the
bureau to set at the truth. One Of the
rules which has been observed by the
agents Of the bureau Ii that its agents
the good viii Of the owner.
The need for complete vital statistics
In every State has been made more clear
than ever In this inquiry. Only eight
States have these statistics in exact
form. The Children's Bureau 10 using
its influence to promote legislation BY
the States for better and more complete
methods Of dealing with vital statistics.
This sort Of Bookkeeping a. applied to
the life and death Of the people, Miss
Lathrop regards as Of the utmost i'm
portance. II is a matter for the States,
not the Federal Government. However,
unless each State does its share IN this
respect the Federal Government 10
seriously hampered in getting statistics,
either on child mortality or any other
line Of study.
Conservation Studied.
Conservation of humanity Is one OF
the chief objects Of the Children's Bu-
reau. The, inquiry into child mortality
has this distinctly in mind. Following
the exposure Of the facts which will
be the result Of the Investigation 1t is
hoped that States. municipalities and
other governmental units will bestlr
to their utmost to grapple
with the problem Of saving the lives
Of the babies
II it is easily possible as sanitarians |
say. to save at least 100000 babies from
death annually. II Is easy to perceive /
what the effect Of such effort would |
De on the increase Of population in this
1t would mean q direct Increase of
several millions in population annually,
70 say nothing Of great economic saw
ngs or Of the enhanced happiness in
millions Of homes.