The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-18
The Alarming Increase OF Infant
Mortality In This City.

A recent statement brings TO the
public the alarming information that
the infant mortality OF this city dur.
ing the past week Is the largest ever
recorded for the same period except
in 1912, when II was exceeded by two
deaths. and that the total infant NOR.
tality of 1915 Is "A. or 81 per cent.
in Excess of that OF last year. What
Is more significant still Is the fact
that there Is an increase of seventy
six deaths for tire week from diseases
usually due TO impure milk.
What Is the reason7 An esteemed
medical correspondent writes:
"Tou and others like you have proved
that sterilization. or at least pa~steuriIa-
ton, u Absolutely essential for the safe
feeding OF infants. especially during the
heated term. That some specialists have
had the hardihood TO advise the use OF
raw milk with all It's dangers Almost
passes belief. but you and I know that
they have done 80 and that they have
attained a large following. even in the
consested downtown districts. where 1t
Is impossible to have raw milk withou,
tremendous danger.
y feel very strongly on this subject,
and I think that these men are guilty
almost OF murder. because many mis-
guided mothers have been led 10 fear
p~asteurlzed and stertlized milk BY the
ougoeAr OF ricketts, n naIdeyelopnen;
which the specialists have raised up As
their only argument against sterilization.
Some infant specialists rave brought
about his revolution in infants food
with this dire result. which you and I
predicted several years ago when the
trend to raw milk feeding began = set
IN. Through the wonderful work OF Ma
THAN STRAus and his milk depots the
infant mortality was reduced 10 very tow
degrees. but now men Of seml-scientinc
IDEAS have upset all the good work ana
have led TO this 'saughtertng OF the In
nocents' simply because OF their desire
to originate something new to attract
a following"
While we may not agree as TO the mo-
dives assigned by our Indignant cor.
respondent, IL is to be regretted that
certain SPECIALISTS In children's dis
eases are advocating the use OF raw
milk for infants on the insuficiently
.1n1Nnnl ~ sal urrNt,wl sh,s -
milk produces scurvy. &c. These
gentlemen lose sight OF the fact that
scurvy IS always traceable 10 n0not-
nous diet devoid of certain vitamins
found in fruits and vegetable Juices.
II would appear TO bee a nor prac-
deal solution OF this question for
physicians TO recommend the addi-
ton OF a small quantity Of orange
Juice, a practice already in vogue, to
pa steurized milk, rather than expect
the entire infant population To depend
on raw milk that Is only sate when
certified. The latter alternative is
impossible for financial reasons, be-
Il the cost is doubled.
While n would be q utoptan prac
tice to initiate nature, IL behooves the
Health Department at present vtgi-
lantly to inspect the r~ns,eurizing
process adopted by the milk dealers.
To insure safety the rule laid down
by THE Sun in its propaganda for
pure milk is worthy Of practice
Never Use Unpasteurized Mix -
We agree with u correspondent
that the Increasing substitution OF
raw milk Is, a. raj predicted, the
chief OF the reported increase
Of intantile mortality.