The Washington herald., 1914-05-02
BY MILDRED DILLON.

To prescribe for shrivelled and RED
hits Of humanity is quite q responsibility.
but to follow up the mother and the
grandmother and the mother-in-law to
see that baby gets what has been or
dered is more than most any woman
a man not considered-with only human
nerve, would like TO undertake
But that is the daily task of Miss
Margaret NJ. Weller. who has charge OF
the pure milk station, and dispensary. at
the children's Hospital and she goes
about her job with actual cheer.
Some of my babies and their home
conditions will make you weep ana you II
be happily surprised at some OF the
Others" she told me the other day, when
l started out with her TO make a round
of afternoon rails on her baby patients
Its utterly hopeless and Impossible
TO try TO teach some OF the women VINO
are mothers how TO take care OF their
babies" she said These calls make
are follow up on the women who come
TO the diet kitchen at the hospital TO get
assistance, so that / can be sure that
they are carrying out the doctors and
my instructions"
Visit Little PieI<aninnies.
The first house at which we stopped
was one of a long row of one-story
dwellings in street. occupied by colored
people. Most Of the baby patients are
pickaninnies.
'sThey's a nurse lady cut heah, ma, tn
see yuh," yelled one of the many young
ones crowded in the door way.
ma. appeared and we were ushered
very tremendously into the house.
''Howde-do. Miss Wellah. Why oidn.
yo' all let me know yo' all was comm
along today?''
Because / want to see how you take
care of Rosaline when you don't expect
me-" Miss Weller laughed.
The house had three rooms In which
three different families lived. In the
small inside room, four babies-an pa
tients at the milk dispensary-werea asleep
on one couch. II seemed to be the gen
eral dormitory for the neighborhood.
How is the new milk formula agree
ing with the baby?" Miss Weller asked.
"And let's see the bottles you have pre-
pared for the day."
Its agreeing wi Rosaline right smart.
miss They's the bottles settin in tn
Winder." The woman directed attention
to the dirt besmired pane.
Miss Weller picked up each bottle and
carefully examined the contents, held
them up against the light TO be certain
the glass was clean and looked at the
condition of the cotton shoppers.
Now. show me your glass of nursing
nipples she said
The woman very reluctantly brought
out a Jelly glas in which several nipples
were soaking in very dirty water.
Now, these nipples will never do In
this condition. You must put tea ket-
tie on the stove and We will make some
fresh boracic acid and fix them up pure
and Clean Miss Weller said TO her. And
then aside to me, This is only the NTH
time that l have shown. this woman
how to make boracic acid"
II think you Sre very patient and ami
able with her." ! said.
If l weren't in some degree amiable
the only result would be an injustice to
the child. because then the mother would
stop coming to US for help and give up
our methods entirelYs" the nurse said
with no little wisdom
1s-Year-OId Mother, This Time.
The second call was made on a white
woman whose baby has been a patient
Of the hospital for two weeks. Miss
Weller examined the five bottles prepared
for the days feeding. looked at the pans
in which the food had been mixed, and
through the refrigerator. Everything
was satisfactorily clean. The mother was
a young girl no older than eighteen
THE baby has gained nearly two
pounds since you have been helping me.
Miss Weller" she said. My husband
thinks you are wonderful"
Il am not wonderful" Miss Weller
laughed. What could do to help your
baby il you did not carry out-the doc
tors and my Instructions
1T is so gratifying and encouraging. "
Miss Weller said TO me as We left the
house, ''to even go into one home and
find the doctors orders being adhered to,
and, of course, those are always the
babies who improve fastest"
We'll go in here" she said, "and see
how Beatrice is getting along"
A yell from a baby carriage in the
yard told us that Beatrice was not get
ting along just then.
We knocked on the door and a big.
Nhite-haired colored woman answered.
'Howdy, nurse" she greeted Miss Wei
Ter.
What's the matter with Beatrice
Miss Weller asked.
"Ain't nutin' the matter with that chile
but spoil" Then, as though remember
ing suddenly. Maybe she'm hungry. l
tole that good fer nuthin' niger to feed
that baby two hours ago
HENRY she called to the baby S
father. Come on down heah an give
yo' baby a bottle, you lazy piece
Enter Henry Thoroughly Subdued.
In a few minutes, during which time
Miss Weller gave many instructions TO
the grandmother, Henry appeared with
a bottle Of milk, and Beatrices cries were