The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-04
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INDIANA,S BABY BOOK.

INDIANA'S BABY BOOK.
State and municipal health officers
are realizing more and more that ono
/ of their most important duties 10 to
teach the public. and that Instruction.
II properly given, IL much moro ef-
fective than coercion without instruc-
ton. The majority Of persons are mot
only willing but also anxious to do
what IL right II they know what they
ought to do. and especially II they are
shown why they ought to do 1t.
The first development Of public
health administration was In the direc-
ton Of compulsory laws forbidding
certain actions and requiring others
These. too often. while enacted from
the best of motives, and based on
sound scientific knowledge, either
were in advance Of public opinion or
were passed without any effort to de-
velop public sentiment to support
them. While often effective in the
hands Of an energetic and capable
health officer. they have been in many
cases dead letters and in others en-
forceable only at the cost of an enor-
nous amount Of effort. which might
better have been utilised in other d.
rections The leading state health or
ganizations at present are endeavoring
to increase the education and enlight-
eminent Of the public. and to create
public sentiment for the enforcement
OF such health regulations as may be
necessary.
this doctrine is the Indiana state board
,xv1 hull At& nd
through the newspapers of the state.
most of which are hearty supporters of
the board. an effective, educational
campaign has been carried on. -:ealiz-
ing that nothing 30 appeals to the aver
age man and woman as do efforts to
save the lives Of babies and prevent
needless illness among infants. the Sec
rotary of the board, DR.. ]. N. Hurry.
asked the state legislature last year for
an appropriation of 1000 for the publ
cation and distribution Of The Indiana
Mothers Baby Book" True to the in
stincts of the average legislator. the
Indiana lawmakers cut this amount
down one-half, and probably would
have refused it altogether bad not DIR.
Hurry called attention to the fact that
the same legislature had already ap-
propriated a larger amount of money
to stamp out hog cholera. Owing to the
limited amount appropriated. the state
board can send copies Of this book only
to the Indiana mother who has just
borne her first child. Beginning last
month. when the birth reports Of the
state for February were received by
the secretary Of the state board of
h. h. - t.
this way was begun.
The book itself. which is attractively
printed and bound, il intended to sup
plement and aid physicians by giving
to mothers simple instructions concern
ing pregnancy, childbirth and the care
Of babies, In the hope that by this
method a considerable amount Of dis
ease and mortality may be prevented.
The first part consists of chapters ON
parentage. pregnancy. preparation for
labor and management of. labor, and
contains instructions for emergencies
as well as advice for prospective moth
ers concerning their physical condition.
The second part is devoted entirely to
the care Of the child. containing chap
tiers on the care and feeding Of the
baby. advice to nursing mothers, bot
tle-feeding. clothing the baby. the Sec
ond summer and teething. The Look is
thoroughly practical. written in SIM
pie language and well illustrated. The
effect of this educational campaign. will
surely be apparent in a few years in
the reduced infant death-rate in In
diana.
An additional touch is furnished by
the two letters that accompany the
book when 1t IL sent to mothers. One
is signed by the governor, congratulate
ing the mother on the birth Of her
child; the other is from the state board
OF health Offering its services In help
ing to keep the child we'll. Naturally,
says The Journal OF the American Med
ical association. these letters greatly
increase the mental impression on the
parents. and lead to greater attention
on their part to the instructions and
admonitions in the little book.
TAKING SOCNDINGS