The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-05-04

has reduced infant mortality in Dune
din, residential city of about 10000 in
habitants, so per cent. during five years,
from 1907 to 1912. Because of the abb
sence of adequate birth and death
registration in the United States, the in
FAINT death rate of this country as a
whole is unknown, but estimates tend
to show that it is at least twice the rate
i'm New Zealand, which the registrar gem
eral of that country reported in 1912 to
be 81 per 1000. New Zealand, like GER
tain OF our states, is a young and Wig
orous country with a scattered popula-
tion and with no large cities, and there
is every reason to believe that similar
volunteer effort in this country would
produce similar results. In view OF the
marked and growing interests in the
preservation of infant health in the
smaller cities and rural communities of
the United States, ] believe that the ac-
count of the methods of the New Zealand
society is especially timely. 1t will be
seen that public interest is strongly en-
listed in its efforts. Seventy volunteer
committees in as many districts main
tain the educational and nursing work
in conjunction with the central Office,
and the government itself assists in va
rious ways. The detailed statement
which follows is not offered for the pur-
pose of urging exact reproduction of the
New Zealand organization, but rather to
stimulate interest in working out what
ever methods are practicable locally for
securing the same results.
Conclusions Drawn from Study of
Methods in New Zealand.
l. The recognition that not only in
cities but in country districts provision
should be made for instructing mothers
in the care of babies; teaching young
girls all practical methods of home max
ing. including baby hygiene and feeding;
giving proper hospital care to sick
babies; and maintaining conferences
where mothers can have their children
examined and can thus learn of any bad
condition before it has progressed
beyond recovery.
q The need of definite knowledge of
just what the problem is in the different
communities. This knowledge it is not
possible to obtain in many districts of
the United States, because, on account
of the incomplete registration of births
and deaths, this country does not know
how many babies are born and how
many die Therefore, to urge the pas
sage OF good registration laws in states
in which such laws do not exist and to
force efficiency in administering the reg
istration laws in other states is a def
mite requirement.
g. The need Of cooperation between
volunteer and public health authorities
in reducing the infant mortality.
A. Recognition of the merit of the
methods OF the New Zealand society for
by club women and others
in making plans for infant welfare
in rural communities in the
United States.
5. The value Of methods which in
elude districting the territory in a state
and organizing local committees having
of the welfare work; the
employment OF nurses whose services
are chiefly educational: newspaper pub
lefty; and the publication OF pam
phlets and other literature on hygiene
and the care OF babies and children,
containing advice vouched for by the
best medical authorities and expressed
in direct, simple language.