Evening journal., 1914-06-17
better babies
PLAN OUTLINED
New York Speaker Tells
How Community Can Ac-
cOmpliSh Good Results
FAIR DIRECTORS
HERE ADDRESS

How to hold a better babies con-
test in connection with the Delaware
State Fair, and the good results that
would follow such a contest In the
way OF healthier and better babies.
was the subject Of very interest
ing address by Mrs. Anna steese
Richardson, before an assemblage
comprising about forty members Of
the Board Of Directors of the Fair
Association and physicians Of the
city and State yesterday afternoon in
the Central Bank building.
Mrs. Richardson, who is connected
with the Better Babies Bureau Of
New York magazine. gave a de-
tailed description as to how a better
babies exhibit can be organized. She
said that the better babies health ex-
hibit can be made one Of the most
profitable, popular and attractive fea-
lures connected with a better babies
contest, such as those held In connec-
ton with the Delaware State Fair,
the exhibit consisting of posters,
charts, leaflets, and practical demon
strations OF modern methods used in
the correct care and feeding of chill
dren, which would teach important
lessons in sanitation and hygiene.
The speaker said the exhibit should
be in charge of a committee, at least
one member of which should be a
physician or trained nurse, and all
the members should be interested in
health, hygiene. sanitation and child
welfare work This exhibit, she said.
should be advertised as thoroughly as
is the better babies contest itself.
Mrs. Richardson then gave a detail |
ed account of what this exhibit |
should consist of, the demonstration |
to show the correct method Of giving |
baby bath, how to arrange baby's |
clothes. how to fix baby's bed, the |
home made ice box. milk modification |
model table diet, baby carriages and |
an exhibit to be known as the "baby |
killers" cheap colored candy, painted |
toys and nursing bottle with the |
long old-fashioned tube. cloudy with |
milk. attached to a nipple. |
Mrs. Richardson also gave a num-
ber of hints to mothers, telling them /
to nurse children. and how to proper
ly care for bottles and nipples. She |
also told of diets to be used while l
weaving. She gave an account of
how the baby should be dressed in
various weather, how much sleep it
should get and a number Of other
valuable general health hints.
The most important part of Mrs.
Richardson's advices. however, was
that devoted to the manner in which
better baby contests should be held. /
She had with her duplicates Of a
better babies standard score card.
which is issued by the better babies
bureau OF the magazine, which has
spaces for all entries to be made
the baby, such as its
name, weight. parents names. its age.
how It Is being fed. etc. The card
has spaces for fve tests: a. mental
and DEVELOPMENT; (2l measurements:
(3l physical examination: (4l oral
and dental examination, and 81 eye,
ear, nose and throat. Mrs. Richard
son declared that an expert account
ant should be secured to tabulate the
figures on the score card.
1--WE cannot trust our own sex "
she declared, "as they make some
dreadful mistakes when It comes to
Mrs. Richardson mentioned the
many defects children have without
their parents knowledge. such as
partial blindness. mental
defects, etc. and she explained the
benefit to the parents Of having these
defects pointed out in time to take
some step to correct them.
"The contest means to get at the /
mothers and educate them" she de- |
clared "The fair officials should be |
proud OF their better babies contest. /
It is more than a mere attraction"
Following Mrs. Richardson's re-
marks, Or. Josephine NJ r. White De
Lacour took exception to the speak
er's insinuations that women were
not capahle of compiling figures. and
remarked that the number OF women
employed in hanks and other places
where they have to do accurate tigur-
ing would disprove this statement
Or. De Lacour also suggested that
the lectures on behalf Of better babies
should he delivered in the italian
and Polish languages.
Among those present at the lecture
we're DR.. Julian Adair. president. and
J. Austin Ellison, secretary, Of the
Board Of Health.