Evening journal., 1915-07-22
Child DEATE RATE
Shows decrease
Mortality Among Infants
Since Jan. 1Far Below
Last Year
7 DIED THIS MONTH
AND Al LAST JULY

Statistics compiled by the city
health department show the death
rate among infants since the first of
the year is lower than that of any
previous year and so far this month.
which, with August, is dreaded by
parents more than oilers, only seven
deaths has occurred among infants
under one year of age. This number
includes two cases which we're re-
ported yesterday ahd of the seven
deaths two we're premature. three
from .diarrhoea md enteritis, one
from marasmus and one from convul-
sions. For the month of July last
year there were Al deaths of infants
under one year Of age.
Excluding those that died this
month, the records show that since
January l of this year ia children
have died who we're under one year
Of age as compared with lis for the
corresponding period last year. This
shows a percentage of l to z, which
Is better than the standard. which is
to 5. With but one death last week
Of child under one year of age, the
health authorities are elated, as the
weather was excessive during that
time
Members Of the Board of Health
are very much pleased with the show
ing so far made this year. One other
point, which is probably the most i'm
portant one in the consideration of
the causes for this great saving Ct
children's lives, is the milk supply Of
the city. Out Of 500 tests made dur
ing the month Of July. the percentage
of butter fats shown was about 4 per
cent. speaking highly for the grade
of milk being furnished in Whining
ton and also for the diligence Of MIX
Inspector Ulrich and the cooperation
of the milk dealers as a general rule
in the city One place 1t has already
been found necessary to close owing
to unsanitary conditions. which num-
ber will be increased If similar VIC
lations are found In connection with
The tests made the most important
feature was the absence OF any pre-
servative Cformaldehyde) in the milk.
Inspections are being continued
In speaking Of the matter yesterday
J. Austin Ellison, secretary of tho
Board of Health. had this to say:
''From close observation ! find that
the infantile mortality will be consider
ably less this year than last. Up to the
present time from the lst of this montl
we have had but seven deaths lin which
he enumerated them as already stated
In connection With the milk ordinance
now being considered by the board
there is no reason whatever in the event
Of its passage for the raising Of th'
price If milk OF course, You know, WI
have no Jurisdiction to inspect the source
Of surply Of milk outside of the city
but we can, in the event of the passag
Of such an ordinance, refuse to issue
oernit to milk dealers outside Of th
.ity until such is accomplished.
THE milk supply. from samples
taken by Milk Inspector Ulrich and
others brought into the of1ce, we find
very good. We have a too high State
standard so far as bacteria in milk is
concerned which is 100000 So far
IS Wilmington personally is concern
ed. we have no regulated standard to
60 by I consider that the bacteria
test standard should not be above
100000 which standard New York
city has adopted
Secretary Ellison yesterday took
exception to quito a number Of state
ments in a recent publication Of an
unsigned letter in a local newspaper
criticizing the milk supply and also
criticizing the board to a certain ex
tent
I'VE are working to the end to keeI
down the death rate and are usinl
every effort to secure the best sani
tary conditions for Wilming gton" Mr.
Ellison said. Our special efforts ar
now being made toward the end o
keeping down the infantile mertalit,
and that our methods. together witt
the cooperation Of all concerned. 4
working out much better, l MAJ say
than was expected, is plainly show
by the reports received"