The Washington times., 1913-07-05
URGES CLEAN MILK
TO SAVE BABY'S LIFE
Children's Bureau Waginq
Campaign in Effort to Cut
High Death Rate.

"A clean milk supply" is the slogan
which is being loudly sounded by the
Children's Bureau of the Department
Of Labor, of which Miss Julia Lathrop
is the head. Miss Lathrop and her
aides are calling on all localities and
especially the cities to go to work to
insure a clean milk supply. This is
looked on as fundamental in the
great campaign which the Children's
Bureau is engaged in to save the
lives of children and lessen the nation
over the terrible toll of death among
infants. especially in the hot season.
Many other things are important in
the successful carrying out of a COM
prehensive, countrywide program of
saving the lives of the babies. These
things, the Children's Bureau would
not have neglected. But II is felt by
Miss Lathrop and her lieutenants that
II the clean milk problem can De
solved the basis will have been laid
Tor a wonderful improvement
Told In Bulletin.
This is brought out in bulletin of
the bureau, telling what American
cities are doing to cut down the high
death rate Of children under i've
years. Such a bulletin will be issued
annually. 1t is a part of the edu-
cational campaign for child welfare
which Miss Lathrop believes is going
TO achieve much good The fact is
cited that in cities like New York and
Philadelphia systematic campaigns
TO save the lives Of children have
shown reduction of 80 to 40 per
cent in the death rate of infants un-
der two years Of age. And the ex-
perience of the New York health
department has shown that within
certain limits a community can de-
termine its own death rate. Such
work costs money, and as Miss La
throp views 1t, practically the only
limit OF good results is measured by
the funds to be obtained.
Poor and filthy milk is responsible.
according to the bureau, for many ills
among humanity of all ages. But it is
especially important that the milk sup
ply for children be pure. The remedy
for unclean milk lies in the intelligent
and effective inspection of farms. the
means Of transportation. and the shops
where milk is sold, as well as in the
ordinances governing the sale of
dipped" or loose milk.
Many Milk Stations.
One of the most encouraging signs of
the times so far as preservation of the
lives of the youngsters of America goes.
IL that constantly increasing number
Of cities of all sizes are establishing
xullh SldllOuS anu QlbpeuSlHR Ullik,
whether pure whole milk. certified.
modified, pasteurizeo. or sterilized milk.
Some of the cities which are doing this
and are SO recorded by the bureau are
Albany. Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo.
Chicago, Dayton, Detroit. Hartford.
Honolulu. Indianapolis. Kansas City.
Lawrence. Mass; Louisville, Lowell.
Milwaukee, Newark, New Bedford New
Haven. New York. Peoria, Pittsburgh.
Providence Rochester, St Louis
Springfield, Ohio; Waterbury. Wilkes
barre. worcester, Yonkers, and Utica.
The milk station is simply a room suf-
fciently large to accommodate the pa
irons. and is equipped with large ice
box, desk. some chairs, and a table.
An ordinary store is suitable for q sta-
ton. and sometimes. as in the case of
the station at Utica. y. Y. a school
room may be used for the purpose. The
station Is usually in charge of nurse.
and physician is In attendance at
stated hours.
Baby Clinics Established.
An outgrowth OF most Of these sta
lions is the establishment of baby
volunteer services Of doctors, who eX-
anime every baby presented at the milk
station and prescribe its care and diet
Still further. growing out Of the milk
station plan is the instruction of moth
ers and older children in the care Of the
milk supply in the home. This is done
through public lectures visiting nurses,
and the establishment of Little Mother
Leagues" made up OF trained school
girls. who are caretakers Of little chill
dren.