The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-04

ed hal the mothers had the proper
care during confinement and some In
struction about the care OF infants
latter birth.
In my opinion, the only practicable
way to give the mothers such care and
instruction would be TO Duild small
hospital here ana employ a trained
nurse. not ali ordinary field matron,
but nurse who has had full course
of training, for the mothers have no
idea Of hygiene and sanitation, neither
have they the proper kind of surround
inSs for successful confinement. Even
should a nurse be placed in charge,
the best way to care for the expectant
Indian mother on the reservation
would be to have her enter properly
equipped hospital and subject herself
to the right kind of regime. This
would not only insure normal birth
and a rapid convalescence, but what
is even moro important it would go
toward educating the mother in child
nurture, for the hospital could make
it its business to see that the mothers
get instruction about bathing the
babies, feeding them, etc, before they
AOoNO. bSo1dOS ILLS, d "SSihiy SiAhlS, Va
monthly, could be held at which the
babies could be examined and the
mothers receive advice as to food.
clothing, sleep, ventilation, etc.
Would Cost No More.
Two objections might be raised to
this plan, the first, that of increased
expense can readily be dismissed.
Were the hospital to save only one life.
it would amply repay for its erection.
or the chances are that it would save
not only one life but many. FOR as l
have stated above, it seems to me that
had we had hospital here during
the past year, probably four out of
five infants that died might have been
saved. The other objection is a FAM
iliar objection that is raised to every
reform or improvement,-the objec-
ton that it would not work; that the
mothers could not be induced to make
use OF the hospital even If they had it.
OF course, that is matter that could
only be decided by trial, but am
confident. and it seems to me am i'll
posintion to know whereof speak,
that, a majority of the women on the
reservation could easily be persuaded
to go to the hospital for confinement.
al IL Lluc IL WOulu IdhS SOIl-
siderable tact to bring this about, but
am confident that 1t could be ac-
complished and after they once formed
,, the habit of making use of the hos
pital and its conveniences, there would
be no trouble whatever. All they need
is to learn from actual example the
necessity of properly caring for their
babies. Object lessons are always
more effective than any other kind
of teaching. When the mothers see
how much better their babies thrive
S.nder the careful supervision of the
nurse, and how much better they them.
H,lves feel after convalescence, they
will want to repeat the experience.
The instruction can be supplements
from time to time by holding Better
Baby" talks and exhibits. The hos.
pital. in short, could be made the cen
trail agency in a campaign for better
| babies. The results of such a cam
paign would not be slow in showing
themselves. There would be a decid
ed drop in mortality r\te among the
Indian babies CampaigAs of this kind
are by no means new. In 1866, DR..
Miehl of Client, Belgium, took up the
problem OF saving children's lives.
He established system of hospitals,
milk depots. and schools for mothers.
The plan was SO successful that the
infant death rate fell from $50 per
| thousand to 40 per thousand. In many
cities hospitals are doing good work
educating mothers in the care OF
babies. They are thus able to care
for them more intelliCently during
the critical period OF weaving and
teething.
10 Out Of Roach.
! Much Of the assistance given by
printed matter is out Of reach of the
Indian mothers who need 1t most. 1t
is surely time that something SHOULD
be done toward teaching them the es'
sentials of the proper rearing Of chill
Ldren AS it is, the babies are i'm.
properly fed and clothed. Many OF
them are fearfully neglected, dirty
and unkempt. They sleep in poorly
ventilated rooms. The result is that
! far too many have little resisting pow.
er, and fall an easy prey to childish
complaints that are easily prevented
I in the case of well-cared-for children
These little ones certainly do not get
a fair chance. They are being cheat
ed out OF their birth-right. 1t is our
business to see to it that the Indian
baby on the reservation has a chance
to grow up into healthy, useful man
hood or womanhood.
| MO ropoo< hact n