The Washington times., 1914-02-11
Neglect Kills More Than $50, 900 Infants
In United States Every TwelUe Months,
Says Report Of Chief Of Child Bureau
Miss Julia LathTop BIameS So
CiaI Conditions for Big
Death Rate Among Babies.
A slaughter of infants.

A slaughter of infants!
Something like $4,000 babies Gle an
nualy in the United States because
measures of hygiene and sanitation
which are known and available are not
applied. This vast and terrific loss Of
infant life is due solely to individual
and civic neglect.
These arc facts that have been as
Certained hy Julia c. I.athrop, chief OF
the Federal Children's Bureau. Her re-
Tort to the Secretary of Labor has just
been made public. In the main, il is
Il ScathiDS, even il gently worded, ar
raiEnment of society.
The Children's Bureau was organized
a year ego. This report is the first
record OF its work. Miss Lathrop has
compiled comprehensive document.
Asks Big Appropriation.
An organization covering six principal
divisions of child welfare, calling for
an appropriation of $164 $40 is asked by
Miss Lathrop, who saws the first year s
work justifies a considerable enlarge
ment of appropriation.
Among the future needs which would
call for this larger administration are
the extension of infant mortality in
quiries. extension of child labor investi-
cations, gathering information regard
ing exceptional children, information
regarding mothers pensions. Juvenile
court inquiries, study of the feeble
minded, study of legislation affecting
children. strengthening the library. and
provision for more expert workers.
Miss Lathrop describes in detail the
work of the first year, which she says
has been largely exploratory in charac-
ter.
when judged by the pressing needs
for such bureau as described by those
who urged the passage of the law: when
compared with the varied demands of
our scattered correspondents, or when
measured by the preliminary surveys
now under way, il is apparent that
what has been done this year scarcely
affords basis for the work which is
imminent" she asserts. "StilI less does
it afford the basis for an adequate con-
ception of the more distant constructive
studies Of the bureau
Infant Mortality Inquiry.
In her review of the bureaus actfvi-
ties since II began operation, August 3,
1912, when its appropriation, $3.50, be-
came available, Miss Lathrop says she
regards the infant mortality investiga-
ton of first Importance.
with the working organization of tho
new bureau effected, the immediate
question became that of the most stra-
tegiC point at which the bureau could
begin field investigating. with the small
force available" she says.
Certain points stood out clearly. The
subject must be fundamental to social
welfare, of popular interest, and serve a
real human need, and from the practical
side it must be work which could be
done a small bit at a time, and publish
ed in installments, as each unit was
finished. All these requirements were
met in the subject of infant mortality.
THE subject is now challenging the
attention of the whole civilized world.
Because the United States differs
from other civilized countries in hay
ing no general system of birth regis
tration, it is impossible to state with
accuracy our proportionate loss, but We
have the estimate of the Census Bureau
that our actual loss last year was
about 300.0O0 babies under one year OF
age, of whom at least half would now
be living had we, as individuals and
communities, applied these measures OF
hygiene and sanitation which are known
and available.
Here is a vast and unmcasured loss
Of infant life due solely to individual
and civic neglect The economic and
Industrial significance of such loss In
the general scheme of social well-beinR
IS heSinnlnS to be realized. 1t was
once thought that a high infant death