El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-28
To Help Expectant Mothers
Campaign to Save Babies Is Started
Along New Lines; Prenatal
Restaurants Este blished.
4 rcderic J. HasEin--
7 AsHINGTON, D. c.. Aug. Is

" 'ASH1NG1ON' u. u, aug 20
wv The greatest interest in eugen-
les which is sweeping over
the country has developed an interest
in everything pertaining to the pro-
duction of healthy babies. No sham
delicacy now prevents the cOnsidera-
ton of a matter so essential to the
future good of the nation 1t is not
sufficient Onw to consider the needs
of the child only after he is born
Attention must be given to his prena-
tai life in order that he may be born
with an assured prospect of strength
and good health This requires that
expectant mothers have proper nOur-
ishment and care. The latest develop
I ment in eugenic progress was the
opening last month in New York Of b
prenatal restaurant" to provide prop
er food to eXpectant mothers.
Plan Giving Strength to Mothers.
The sponsor of this unique restau-
rant is Miss Mabel Parker who for
five years has been operating, chiefly
through her own energies, a milk sta
ton for babies on the west side of
! New York city, north of One Hun
dredth street She has saved the lives
! of hundreds of babies by providing
them witt fresh pure milk In doing
/ this she has discovered that even good
milk will not always give strength to
a baby who was born puny and frail.
In her years of contact with the moth
ers of the poor, Miss Parker learned,
as have many other social workers,
| that the reason a baby is born puny
is chiefly because his mother was lack
I ing in physical strength.
The object of this restaurant is to
place within the reach of the expect
ant mother of that vicinity the means
of keeping herself in good health IN
/ til her child is born. It is believed
( that the prenatal restaurant of New
York will be only a fOrerunner OF
! many similar institutions which will
fill a pressing need in every city. This
LITTLE elsa hi chu1aur ODened by MISS
1 Parker is only small beginning
Doubtless it will soon grow in size,
for its purpose is in line with the most
modern developments Of practical phil
antErOpy. 1t will supply only the
noon meal to a woman. This viii con-
sist Of meat, broth and vegetables and
it vii cost but five cents. This low
price will place it within the reach
of almost every woman Of the Jene-
ment district. although no eXpectant
mother who lacks this small coin viii
be refused the food needed.
Help EXPectaRt Mothers First.
According to recently compiled re-
ports made under the direction of Miss
Julia LathrOp, chief Of the National
Children's bureau, fully So percent of
the deaths Of children under one year
of age are due to causes mainly de-
pendent upon the health of the mother
before the birth of her infant OF the
154,313 infants who died in the United
States two years ago nearly 10 percent
lived less than a day and over % per-
cent lived less than week The re-
port for last year shows 3 decrease in
the number Of deaths from 154,343 TO
1892, which is believed to be en-
tirely due to the baby saving cam
paigns in the larger cities This re-
suit would be most gratifying but for
the fact that the number of babies who
liveC only a day increased from 10 per-
cent to II percent, and those living
less than week from % to q per-
cent.
These figures clearly prove that the
efforts to save the babies through pure
milk and more Intelligent care have
produced definite results, but they alst
indicate the need of effort TO reach
coming recognized by visiting nurse
societies and similar organizations
and much has been done to meet it
The Campaign in Boston.
In Boston an organization of women
has been providing visiting nurses to
every eXpectant mother within their
reach. The nurses visit the women reg
ularIy ana give them scientific instruc-
ton as to the care to be taken OF
themselves before and after the birth
Of the child. Diet was not discussed
at first, but is now receiving atten-
ton because of the widely published
statement that it is impossible for a
poorly fed mother to give birth to
vigorous healthy infant and nurse it
successfully afterward-
if a prospective mothers food IS not
well selected IL can not give the de-
gree Of nOurishment for the future
welfare Of tie child So generally is
this fact recognized that nurses who,
until within the past year. only touched
upon the subject of the mothers diet
now give definite instruction
upon this subject Diet lectures for
prospective mothers are being de-
liVered in all large cities Women are
being advised to fOregO highly sea-
sOned and very rich foods at this time
and choose those which are best suited
to their digestion
Dietary List for Expecthnt Mothers.
In a dietary list for prospective
mothers lately issued by the New York
state board of health, soups and fresh
fish OF all kinds are commended. But
meat should be eaten Sparingly and
only once a day. Chicken, ham, veal
mutton ana lamb are preferable to beef
Stale white bread, corn bread, brown
bread. toast. crackers, rice and all
cereals are wholesome. Heavy Vegeta-
bles, such as turnips and cabbage
should be avoided. In their place
should be eaten light, fresh vegetables,
including lettuce salads with plenty of
oil. Nc beer or other alcoholic bever-
ages should be taken. Tea and coffee
should be taken sparingly, If at all
Milk, buttermilk, cocoa and matted
milk should be substituted No pastries
should be eaten Plain pudding, Gust
ards. junkets. stewed and fresh fruit
should furnish the desserts.
Movement Starts in Paris.
EarlS was the IlrSt city TO open
free restaurant for eXpectant mothers.
The need of the French nation for an
increase in its population has led the
government to make every effort not
only to increase the birth rate, but to
provide for the production Of strong,
healthy children. In different parts of
Paris are small cafes at which expect
ant mothers can obtain a free meal
upon the presentation of a card signed
by physician. 1t is not unusual for
a French woman to receive free food
for months before confinement She
can also enter a hospital six weeks
before confinement and be properly
provided for until her child is at least
two weeks old.
In Germany a nursing mother can
receive proper provision of food at the
expense of the state, and a number of
institutions viii provide her with food
under government authority and with
but small formality, for months be-
fore confinement. In London, numer-
GUS diet kitchens scattered over
the city, will supply food to an ex-
pectant mother, either free, or for a
price within her reach. In Scotland a
nursing society provides food to nurs-
ing mothers.
In the United States this work is
comparatively new, although much
more attention is being given to it
than has been realized outside of char