South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-25
What Local Societies
Are Doing for Babies
-HILDREN's DIsPENsARY.

The Children's Dispensary and
Hospital association was organized in
June, 1909. by the Associated Char
tiles OF South Bend in response 10
a request from a prominent ply
stefan that "A dispensary for sick
ba bies be conducted during the sum-
mer in the west end. The Associa-
ted Charities had long felt the need
Of such work in South Bend and
was glad 20 help in its organization.
The dispensary was opened and for
two summers the Visiting Nurse
association gave the free service of
nurse each morning.
The work increased TO such an
extent that all the time Of a nurse
was needed and the third summer
the services of Miss Olive Bailey were
secured. For five years Miss Bailey
has been a most faithful and efiC-
lent worker for the babies of the
west end. Since Miss Bailey took
up the work the dispensary has been
open the year round and for two
summers a sub-station was open in
the oliver schoolhouse.
the Children's dispensary is now a
positive center of usefulness. exert
ing a strong influence for healthier
and better babies mainly among the
families of the western section Of
the city. II is the earnest hope of
the society 10 be able To establish
milk stations in other parts OF the
city i'm the near future.
The society believes the best food
for a baby is the mothers milk. but
for those who are so unfortunate as
TO be deprived of their natural and
rightful food the society has been
most fortunate in being able to
furnish clean milk. the dispeEsary
milk showing the lowest bacterial
count of any milk sold in St Jo-
seph county
That the dispensary is accomplish
ing its purpose in lowering the in
FAINT mortality rate of the city is
shown by the records in the office
OF the city board of health, also by
the willing statements of parish
priests and undertakers.
There we're 3OS cases enrolled for
the year 1915. one hundred and sew
enty being new cases. One hundred
forty-three of the new cases game as
a result Of the work done in the
district and % were referred by
physicians. schools. charita bic So
cieties and citizens. One hundred
ffty-One clinics were held with an
attendance of 975 cases. Fifty-One
per cent Of the children admitted
were one year or under; and 81 per
cent of these were breast-fed. By
teaching the mothers how to regu-
late their own diet many babies
were saved from artificial feeding.
There were 1885 home visits made,
but owing to lack of funds to pro-
vide sufficient qualified workers not
much prenatal work has been done.
The clinics are conducted by seven
staff physicians and three consult
ing specialists. All the medical
work is gratuitous.
The South Bend Medical labora-
tory made a number of breast-milk
tests and throat cultures. Fourteen
babies were sent 20 Epworth hos
pital where 1862 days of service were
given. OF milk, 1850 quarts were
used and 1850 feelings prepared.
The Childrens dispensary is deeply
interested in the observance of Baby
week Our greatest concern just
now. though. is for better housing
conditions in South Bend. as our
nurse has long realized that the
preventive work done in the home is
far less expensive and far more VAL
ua bic than any curative work.