New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-10

nation The children of those nations were
therefore given special attention physically,
in order that the strength and virility OF the
race might not be lost
Father Knickerbocker has somewhat dill
ferent and more difficult problem 70 solve.
Seated al the gateway OF vast continent,
there is placed upon him the burden OF assir1ll-
latine thousands upon thousands OF people
who desire 10 pass on into his household. PEG
ple who have lived lives OF poverty and who
bring with them the attendant physical ills
OF poverty.
The physical care given to New York City
children is given not only as a precautionary
measure for the sake Of the city, but even
more for the benefit Of the child itself
The best way to handle the foreign born
resident is 10 teach him how TO live under
the conditions Of a higher civilization. The
best way TO handle the native born Is TO in
troduce measures which will prevent any re-
Progressive tendencies from developing in the
physical life Of the child, as well as TO incul-
cate personal habits which will work for the
betterment Of the child and which will mini
mize bodily ills The keynote Of all Of this
work is Prevention is better than any cure"
FATHER KNICKERBOCKERS FAMILY
PHYSICIAN AND ADVISER.
Father Knickerbockers family physician
and adviser is the Department Of Health The
special division Of this department which is
devoted 10 the physical care Of children IS
known as the division Of child hygiene. DR..
S. Josephine Baker is the head of this division.
- al
ton 70 sociological conditions of cosmopoli-
tan life is a subject in which DR.. Baker excels.
She combines efficiency with a degree Of en-
thusiasm which well accords with the vital
importance Of such matter.
The theory OF DR.. Baker Is that the well
being OF the child begins with that OF the
mother herself, before the birth Of the child.
In practice this view means that the division
of child hygiene is prepared to minister TO
the regiments Of expectant mothers, whose
condition is carefully supervised. The fact
that births in foreign families are attended
by semi-professional class OF practitioners,
known as midwives. requires that considerable
supervision be exercised in all such cases. This
supervision takes the form Of licensing for the
performance Of these duties and regular and
frequent inspection after licenses have been
granted.
NURSES PROVIDED SOON AFTER THE
BIRTH or BABIES.
The policy Of the child hygiene depart
nent is 20 send nurses 20 the mothers as soon
as possible after the birth OF the baby has
been reported and TO provide the mother with
definite and continuous instruction regarding
the baby's care This is done in an effort TO
teach the mother how to keep the baby we'll
rather than TO attempt 10 cure him for her
after he has become ILL., In carrying out this
par, of the work Board of Health nurses
visit the mothers, show them how to prepare
the baby's food and how 20 give the baby It's
dailv bath All cases OF illness are reported
Immediately by these nurses 10 the depart
men, and a medical inspector Is at once sent
TO give the baby treatm-nt
II does not follow that because woman
becomes mother she is properly qualified to
care for the child intelligently. On the con-
trsry. far more children die yearly in this
CITY because of parental ignorance as 70 their
care than from organic diseases. Therefore
this division OF child hygiene has taken steps 70
cope with the situation.
Lectures 70 mothers are given weekly on
the care Of babies. at public Fairgrounds, rec
reation centres and az social centres through
out the city. At these lectures regular courses
on infant hygiene are given and clinics are
maintained for the treatment OF sick babies.
Cooperation with the New York Diet Kitchen
and with infants milk stations, and the main
tenance OF hfty-hve Board of Health milk
stations. enable the mothers to obtain healthy
milf for their children.
In the eongested parts Of the city. especially