The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1916-03-23
HIS MAJESTY
OUR GREATEST ASSET
Importance Of Birth Registra-
ton vividIy Pointed Out by
Sponsors Of the
Movement.

curately shown how many babies are
born in our country year by year nor
how many babies die.
DR.. Wilbur, former vital statistician
Of the census bureau, estimates that
100000 babies die annually In the
United States before reaching the age
of one year. The children's bureau.
reducing this estimate to terms of to-
tai population, says:
1T is as If Chicago, the second city
Of the United States, were to be wiped
out Of existence every ten years, not
a single life being saved. 1t means the
humiliation each decade of a popula-
ton as large as that of the state of
New Jersey and greater than that of
such states as Alabama, California.
Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, North
Carolina, Tennessee. Virginia or Wis
consin."
Such a statement grips the imagina.
ton powerfully enough, yet it does not
even touch upon the vast sum total of
human anguish which it cost the moth
ers Of our country to give these chill
dren to the world nor their greater
anguish at losing them.
Infant mortality appears never SO
tragic as when it Is remembered that
the highest medical skill of the day is
authority for the statement that most
Of it is unnecessary. The New York
state department of health has adopt
ed for its slogan these words, signifi-
cant of the enlightened spirit of the
times: Public health is purchasable.
Within natural limitations a commu-
nifty can determine it's own death
rate"
For decades past Uncle Sam has had
a corps Of experts whose duties in
Guided the studying and remedying Of
causes Of mortality among the horses.
cattle and hogs of the country. Within
more recent years-a bit tardily, per-
haps, but with enthusiasm-the old
man has turned his attention to the
babies.
What We Owe the Babies.
A baby is entitled to vigorous, good.
intelligent parents. There is a vast
amount Of illness and mortality among
parents from tuberculosis, from occu-
pational disease. from industrial acct
dents and from diseases like typhoid,
for all Of which society is largely re.
sponsible.
| The baby is entitled not only to both
his parents, but to the physical essen
tials of a good home, such as fresh air
and sunshine and clean water and
good drainage. He is entitled to intel.
1igent and wholesome care. But how
many parents have had little or no op,
portunity to learn what their babies
need or to provide for their babies that
which they know to be necessary?
Here we touch, of course. the whole
great problem of poverty and igno.
rance which must he solved before all
babies a have thei" FIJI inheritance
Of health and right living. Rrt w
before this funda"" n'c' nroblcn j.
solved there is mnch '''at ever. com
munfty can Go w',;,.', ~~"in'"'. w'''',as
to serve IT'S ~l,a'':"S "; ~"-"h avsua'in,ita
as publ" health l.ui>e:. lE infant wei
are stations. l.? Il carefully supervised
milk supply. h. Instruction for moth
ers and by special provision for fami
lies where the mother. OF u baby Is
compelled to earn the living.
One-fortieth Of the life of the nation
is renewed every year. 1t is for us to
determine how that new life shall be
protected.
In Boston this year the retail stores
the Milk and Baby Hygiene associa'
ton, the state board of health, the of:
fcers of the Floating hospital. the We.
mems Municipal league. the hospitals.
the settlement houses and the boy
scouts will cooperate in the movement
Many OF the city's most prominent
physicians will lecture. and free ex-
hibits will be or display all over town.
Tuesday. March II. will be known
there as Mothers day" and will be
featured by a number Of lectures on
prenatal and obstetrical subjects by a
number of well known authorities.
Thursday. the 9th. will be Fathers
day, and a mass meeting will be held
at Faneuil hall from II noon to 2 p.
m. The boy scouts will render active
service in distributing a flag to fam
flies who have a baby less than one
year old. and on a day which will be