The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-19
BY JERRY O'LEARY.


The baby week campaign, to begin
here May 6, probably will disclose the
fact that Washington is badly in need
Of legislation as well as education in or
der to protect its babies from death dur
ing the first year Of life.f ~" =
Although Washington's infant death
rate has tumbled rapidly, during the last
fifteen years, officials of the Health De-
partment and OF the Washington Diet
Kitchen Association yesterday pointed out
several laws which, in their opinion,
would save hundreds Of more babies dur
Ing the first year.
Health Officer William C. Woodward
said Washington is behind other large
cities in laws for the regulation of its
milk supply, which, ne said, is admitted
to be probably the most important cause
OF high death rates among infants DIR.
Woodward has been vainly endeavoring
for several years to obtain a more strin-
gent milk law from Congress.
I'VE ought to have a milk law" said
DR.. Woodward, that would compel deal
crs to keep their bottles at an even. cold
temperature from the time 1t is taken
from the COW until served at the home,
so as to prevent decomposition.
THE Commissioners ought to have au-
thority to classify the city's milk into
srddes' such as a, Ii, and Z.
MIX Grades Advocated.
1.-THE law should prevent dealers from
advertising their milk as 'pasteurized' I'M
less 1t is really rssteurized.
I'VE shrICld have more inspectors In
order TO pNperly Npervise the nearby
farms from which such of the city's
milk comes.
1T is a significant fa6s that Washing
toms infant death, which was very high
twenty years ago, began to decrease after
the passage of the present milk supply
law in 1895. This shows the part which
bad milk plays in infant mortality"
DR.. Woodward said that while he was
not in a position to know whether the
women of Washington are wanting in
their knowledge Of the proper care of
babies. he said that the large colored
population of the city-among whom less
attention Is given to the care of in
fants-is an important factor in Wash
inGton's infant death rate.
The peculiarities of the summer climate
here also play a big part in the death of
babies during the first year of their life,
DR.. Woodward said. This condition, he
pointed out, must he remedied by un-
usual care in housing conditions and the
food given babies during the summer.
Deplorabfc Conditions.
Miss Estelle Wheeler. superintendent
OF one Of the stations OF the Washing
ton Diet Kitchen Association. said that
while Washington is a beautiful city,
there are many sections in which living
conditions are deplorable from the stand
point of the health of the babies who
are born in those sections.
Miss Wheeler said Congress should
provide the Health Department with at
least three visiting nurses to supervise
the health OF these infants. The health
OF babies born in unfavorabls surround
ings is watched solely by the Washington
Diet Kitchen Association and the In
structive Visiting Nurses Society, volun-
tary organizations that cooperate with
the Health Department.
These two organizations have been
largely responsible for the rapid reduce
ton in infant mortality in recent years.
When the Health Department learns of
the birth Of child which they have rea-
son to believe will not receive proper
care. having no municipal nurses, they
notify one of these voluntary organiza-
lions. The Diet Kitchen covers the
northwest and southwest, while the
Nurses Society covers the southeast and
northeast.
Education Is Urged.
Mrs. Max West. of the United States
Children's Bureau, and Miss Wheeler
both declared that the education Of the
women of America in the care of infants
Is the only way In which the wanton de-
strnction Of children through careless
ness can be checked.
The baby week campaigns, which
are being held in the principal cities
of the country this year. were inaugu-
rated. said Mrs. West after a sudden
realization of the fact that 500, 900
babies were dying every year in the
United States from preYentable causes.
Experience in Europe as we'll as in
this country has shown" said Mrs
West, that no matter how good the
sewage system. milk supply. or other
conditions OF a city may be. IL the
mothers do not know how to feed and
care for the babies the death rate
cannot be reduced. 1t is the root of
the problem"