The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-03
FIRST REPORT ON infant
MORTALITY IN U.S.. ISSUED
Johnstown, Pa, First City to Be Studied
Federal Department Of Labor, Re-
veals Appalling Death Rate in Ger
tain Sections

Washington, d. c., Feb. 3.-The
Children IS Bureau of the Department
of Labor issues to-day the first report
in its study of infant mortality in the
United States. The report emphasizes
the fact that this is only the first item
in a proposed extended inquiry. While
it carefully avoids conclusions, certain
conditions are pointed out as coinsident
with a high infant death rate in the
one city under consideration. 1t finds
that the infant death rate varied in diff
ferent parts of the same city. In the
poorest section, where sanitary condi-,
tions were at their worst, the rate was
271 per thousand babies, or more than
five times that of the choice residential
section of the city.
The deaths of the babies investigat-
ed were in inverse proportion to the
earnings of their fathers. Babies whose
fathers earned less than ten dollars
week died at the rate of 256 per thou
sand. Those whose fathers earned
twenty-five or more dollars a week died
at the rate of "a per thousand.
Breast-Fed Babies Live Longest
The report shows that artifcially-fed
babies died at much more rapid rate
than breast-fed babies. In the earliest
months of the baby's life exclusive
breast-feeding appears to be the only
safe method Only 46.6 babies per thou.
sand died under one year of age when
breast fed for at least three months, as
against 1868 per thousand who died
when fed exclusively ON artificial food
up to the age of three months.
Where mothers were employed large
part of the time in heavy work babies
died at much more rapid rate. In one
group of 10 mothers whose babies all
died, 15 had been keeping dodgers, an
arduous occupation among the foreign
women, where the wife without extra
change often washes and irons for the
lodgers and buys and prepares their
food.
The city bears its share of response
blhty for infant deaths. A high rate
of infant deaths was found in coninci-
dences with neglected streets and un-
sanitary housing. The report shows for
l95 miles of streets and alleys, only
Al miles of sewers and SO outlets, only
"a per cent. of the streets paved, and
but L per cent. of the alleys. In houses
where water had to be carried in from
outdoors, the infant death rate was
l9S per thousand, as against 11S per
thousand where water was piped into
the house.
These findings are based on a report
oil -.
Johnstown, Pa. Other cities now being
studied are Manchester, N. H.. Brock
ton, Mass. and Saginaw, Mich.
Why Johnstown Was Selected
The city of Johnstown was chosen as
the first town to be studied because
OF It's interest as type of town in
whlch there are no large industries en-
pIoylng women, and because its size and
It's good birth registration permitted a
study with the limited staff which the
bureau could at first assign to the work.
In her letter submitting the Johns,
town report to the Secretary of Labor
Miss Julia c. Lathrop, chief of the
Chlldren s Bureau, states that the sub
Ject OF infant mortality was chosen for
the first field inquiry because of its pro.
round Importance in our national life.
According to an estimate of the T. s
census Bureau, at least 100000 babies
dle annually in this country, which
means approximately one baby out of
every eight under one year of AGE
Leading sanitarians say that if proper
measures of hygiene and sanitation
were observed this number could be in
definitely reduced. The Children s Blu.
reau is trying to learn the conditions of
life most favorable for American
babies.
Obtaining the Information
Every mother of Johnstown baby
born in 1911 was visited by women
agents of the Children s Bureau and in
formation obtained about the family
surroundings Of the baby, how his
father earns the money necessary for
his care, and how much he earns.
whether his mother works outside the
home and how heavy her work is with
IN the home, whether the city streets
are safe, the water pure, the milk clean.
The subjects considered in this first
report; city and street environment.
housing, nationality, mothers s age, lit
eracy and married history, the feeding
of the baby, the occupations of the
mothers, the family earnings, etc, show
some of the lines along which the Chill
dren s Bureau expects to find informa
ton leading to a reduction of the high
rates of infant mortality in the United
States.
The report of infant mortality con
ditions in Johnstown was written bv
Miss Emma Duke, one of the women
Investigators of the bureau. This report.
like the other publications of the bu.
feau, may be obtained free of charge
upon application to the Children's s Blu.
reau, Department of Labor, Washing
ton, D. C.
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