The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1913-06-20
MORTALITY;
ITS PREVENTION
Terrible Responsibility of Dis
eased Parents Explained by
State Board of Health.
Diseases of Childhood.

"oAio, 10 StllhlHSiy set lOA tn An d
statement Just issued by 1the Georgia
State Board of Health, explaining in
plain words the influence of heredity
on infant mortality.
People who refuse to face thesss
facts, says the Board Of Health, are
deliberately laying both themselves
and their offspring open to untold
misery and suffering. Parents af-
aicted with tuoercYos!s, heart disc
ase, syphilis, kidney disease, epilepsy
or other serious constitutional disc.
asses, cannot expect to produce a child
with normal resistance to disease
and unfavorable envii onment, any
more than a diseased plant can be-
expected to produce a perfect flower.
OF all hereditary diseases, syphilis
is undoubtedly the one which works
the greatest havoc. The child may
never come into the world alive at all,
Or if it does, it may be hope!essly at
fiicted Ricketts,, monsters, blindness,
hydrocephalus, insanity, are only a
few of the evils that may result.
A healthy, normal child, can be
produced only by healthy normal par
ents. Even then it is extremely
necessary that prior to the birth of
the infant the mother be freed as
much as possible from worries and
cares, that her Surroundings be SAM.
tary and cheerful: and that her diet.
exercise and clothing be properly reg
ulated
Importance of Proper Feeding.
But even latter the healthy child
has opened its little eyes to the sun.
shine, the responsibility of the par.
spts is equally great. No dollhouse
plant is more susceptible to unfavor.
able influences than newborn
child. Proper food, fresh air. bath.
ing and proper clothing, are the chief
essentials.
Improper feeding is the greatest
single cause Of infant mortality. For
information concerning the proper
feeding of infants, the Georgia State
Board of Health has issued a circular,
No. II, entitled Keep Baby Well
During the Summer, which may be
had for the asking,
Above all, says the Board OF
Health, do not get the erroneous idea
that there are some diseases of child.
hood which the child is bound to
have, and which are so trivial that
the sooner they are over with the
better This is altogether wrong.
Practically all the diseases OF child.
MOOD can lead TO serious complications
and permanent weakness or death.
Children should never be exposed 70
contagious ailments, if ii can possibly
be avoided, and those suffering from
measles, scarlet fever. chicken-pox.
whOOping cough. humps. diptheria.
etc, should be isolated, quarantined
and attended by competent physian.
Sanitary Precautions.
light, airy upstairs room is pre-.
ferable II possible, the bed should
be an iron one The single, firm mat
tress should be entirely covered with
a rubber sheet or oil cloth, and On
top of this the sheets. blankets and
cOnnterpane should be spread Quilts
should not be used. The pillow
should also have rubber or oil cloth
covering under the slip. Carpets. mic.
lures. and all unnecessary furniture
should be removed All clothing that
goes from the room should be soaked
iii disinfecting solution before II
is sent out to be washed Your rhy.
sician will tell you how. All other
sanitary precautions should be taken.
such as separate dishes for the
sole use Of the patient All dish
charges must be thoroughly disiutect.
ed before they are taken from the
room. The nurse and physician
should be the only persons allowed
i'll The room, and they should cover
cap and gown. Hands should ba
washed and disintected.
When the child ecoyers. it should
be bathed. disInfected, wrapped in a
sheet wet with dislntecting solution
aud carried into an adjoining room 10
be dressed. In event of death, the
body should be diSinfected, sealed in
coffin and given private burial as
soon as possible.
The room should be sealed 40. with
paper pasted over fireplace. cracks.
keyhole, etc. Hang up bedclothes;
open drawers. Place tub containing
water in center of room. Place pan
i'll water. In pan put crystals of pota.
sssium permanganate and over this
| quickly pour formaldehgde out OF
larger mouthed vessel Leave room
Immediately. Keep i locked and
sealed up II to a hours.
Against such diseases as smallpox