Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-20
PUBLIC WELFARE
HEADS SEE NEED
OF CITY'S HELP
Report to Board of Health Al
leges Prenatal Mortality
at High Figure.

Physicians representing the Public
Welfare Committee and the Moral
League. both semi-official county or
carnations. asked for an appropria=
ton Of 81. 1000 for their work, in a re-
port made to the Board Of Health last
night. It was explained that the
money would be used to prevent
criminal practise by quacks and mid
wives and to enlighten women on the
matter of child birth.
1t was declared that the organlza-
tions have evidence TO show that IL
legal practise by midwives and others
"a on the increase IN Newark and that
additional supervision and consulting
stations are needed to cope with the
situation. Last year the committee
obtained $4,000 for their work from
4he CITY. The report to the Board or
Health described alleged conditions
here. It Is signed by DR.. Laban Den
mis-. DR.. Edward J. Ill, DR.. Theodore
" Corwin and DR.. Henry J. f. Wall
hauser.
According to the statement Of these
phvsicians. 100 of their professional
brethren, or about one-hat OF the
ynedieal faculty of Newark, dis
covered during one week in March
last forty-one cases of criminal NAL
practise IN this city. This, 1t Is
pointed out, would amount to more
than 1000 such cases in year. anu
as there are more than 300 physicians
who did not report, it is assumed tha'
the pre-natal mortality in Newark
would reach in a twelfthmonth the
appalling total of over 4,O0O' or ABOUT
four-ffths the number of deaths from
all other causes combined.
DR.. Dennis in offering his report
said: --.,4-. - an
propriations should be explained 10
the lavman and the value OF the
work emphasized to him. We are
soing TO show a saving Of lives and
We would be glad to have the back
ina of any of the members OF TINS
hoard. The increase which we ask
would look appalling to the average
councilman and he would not care
10 face his constituents with an IA
creased tax rate staring them IN the
face unless he could properly explain
it, -. -,
,,esentatives of the Welfare Com
ruittee and Morals League went be-
fore the finance committee Of the
common council, there would be
representation of the Board OF Health
also present. ,....,.,s
After the meeting had adjourned,
DR.. George H. Warren stated tnat
he did not believe the figures quoted
by DR.. Dennis could be correct:
understood the request for state
ment of the number OF cases tnat
came under my observation was Tor
n year, and / sent that figure ac-
coraing TO my understanding, ne
said.
The budget, which the finance COM
vni+tea of the Common Council Will
he asked to ratify, will amount IN all
a s1s5.44S.30. This is an increase of
sol 145.4 40. which includes $4,000 for
. new chemical laboratory ana
Sc 100 additional for the carrying on
of the infant hygiene work The
balance of the increase is explained
as being only natural in accordance
zuith the growth of the city
The salary account of the Doard
xVilI total 1928, $40 and the supplies
figured to be necessary will cost S6b,-
sGs. 80. The budget was amended from
It's original form TO increase the
amount for the infant hygiene work
10 the amount which the Public Wei
fare Committee and Morals League
representative asked. There was no
comment on the ADOPTION
The budget for the maintainence of
the City Hospital Will be taken up
at a meeting TO be held on May 20.