The Coconino sun., 1916-03-24
WHAT CAN BE DONE
 FOR BABY RETIREMENT
(Read at the Federated church, during
 "Beter Baby Weekly
By DR. M. FRONSKE


 Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of God" was the invi- tation our Savior extended the mothers who brought infants unto him that he would touch them.
 In what manner could this week, dedicated to the babyhod of the Unit cd States be begun more appropriately than to invite to the House of God the babies and mothers of Flagstaff. At the time of this incident in the life of Christ, he had been healing many un- fortunate sufferers. These mothers had heard of him and they brought their infants that he might bless them with his touch and in their innermost heart they felt that this Divine touch would keep their dear ones from the sufferings which disease might cause them.
 Even at that time, we may safely assume, the great importance of pre- venting disease was realized. How much good this Baby Week movement will produce, it is difficult for even the most optimistic workers of the cause to forecast. It is but beginning in the popular education of the people, especially the mothers, in the causes and prevention of sickness in the early years of human life. That many di- seases can be prevented as soon as their causes are discovered, is known to everyone. Prevention of disease, prophylaxis is the medical term, has made habitable sections of the earth where it was impossible for white men to live, as we have seen in the canal gone on our own continent. It is an importance branch of medical science today. As Dr. Holt, that renowned authority on infant diseases says: "There is no more promising field in medicine than the prevention of di- sease in childhood. The majority of the ailments from which children die, it is within the power of man in great measure to prevent. Prophylaxis should aim at the solution of two distinct problems. CD, removal of the causes which interfere with proper growth and development of children. (2), the prevention of infection. The former can come only through educa- tion, first of the profession and then the general public in the fundamental principles of infant feeding and hy- giene. This is department which has received altogether too small place in medical education. The latter must come through the profession and through legislation the purpose of which shall be more rigid quarantine, more thorough disinfection and inn proved sanitation, in all it's depart ments."
 In the time allotted me this morn ing, can just touch upon some of the many important points in this con- nection. Inheritance may play an inn portant part in the causation of dis ease, not only in infancy, but in later life. While distinct diseases as tuber- culosis and other infectious diseases are not inherited from parents, there may be transmitted certain tendencies or weakness which may manifest themselves in infancy or later child hood. Under this heading we may place the influence of rheumatism gout and the various nervous diseases When such conditions exist in parents the children may inherit no definite disease, but simply vitiated constitu- tion.
 Little can be done to prevent diseas- es which are directly inherited, but where a certain weakness is known tc exist in the life of either parent, ol both, often the proper hygienic care and regular habits of baby from the time of birth may do much to over. come any inherited tendency.
 Malformations which exist at birth and are the result of abnormal or de. ficient development, are rather rare and not preventable, and need not bt mentioned further here. Suffice it ii to say that much can be done to cor. rect such conditions by modern sur gery.
 This brings us to the more import ant diseases of infancy. These ar, conditions which interfere with tn, proper growth and development ant are caused by improper food and feed ing, unhygienic surroundings and thu neglect from carelessness or ignor ance. As the direct outgrowth ot such errors, may spring such affiic tions as scurvy, malnutrition and ma rasmus. Scurvy is constitutions disease due to some prolonged erroI ir diet If is mt connnon and is fount