The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-02
$4,000 MOTHERS DIE
Because of Ignorance and Improper Care
in Child Birth.

More women Is to 45 years OF age die
in the United States from conditions
incident to maternity than from any 9th.
er cause except tuberculosis, And since
1900, while the death rates from tuber'
culosis, typhoid, diphtheria and Group
and certain other preyentable diseases
have been greatly reduced, the available
figures for the death-regstration area
show no decrease in the proportion of
mothers whose lives are sacrificed yearly
to ignorance and improper care in child
birth.
These facts and their causes, with a
detailed study of maternal death rates
in the United States and foreign coun-
| tries, are set forth in bulletin on ma
ternal morality by DIR. Grace l.. Meigs,
drens bureau of the United States de-
partment of labor.
| DR.. Meigs emphasizes the inseparable
connection between the life and health
of the mother and the life and health of
her baby. She points out that the l5,-
600 maternal deaths which occur an
nually in the United States are largely
preventable; that these $4,000 deaths are
merely rough index of unmeasured
preventable illness among mothers; and
that the protection of mothers is es-
sential to the saving of babies lives.
How can the protection of mothers be
accomplished?
Two underlying causes are assigned
for the present condition:
First. The hazards have been either
ignored or accepted as unavoidable.
knowledge of the need for good care
at childbirth is essential; the lack OF
such knowledge and of a demand for
this care has BEEN, probably, the chief
factor in producing the present indif-
ference to this phase of preventive medi-
cine. Communities are still to a great
extent Indifferent to or ignorant of the
number of lives of women lost yearly
from childbirth"
"The second fundamental cause.-the
difficulty of obtaining adequate care
is seen to depend to large extent on
the first. As women, their husbands.
and communities realize the /,
absolute need of skilled care, methods |
for providing it will be developed"
The city problem and the rural prob
lem are both discussed
Even in city well supplied with |
clinics and hospitals the number of wom- !
en- served by them is small in compari-
son with the number who bear their
children without receiving adequate care.
Certain sections of the population de
pend on ignorant midwives. But the
reader is reminded that women of mod
crate means who can not pay large fees
and who will not visit a clinic some
times receive the least benefit from i'm
in standards of care.
I'm rural districts many women bear
their children with no attendant other
than the husband, relative, or a neigh
Dor. The nearest physician may be
miles away, the nearest hospital much
farther"
DR.. Meigs refers to the work for ma
.ernal and child welfare which has been
developed in New Zealand and in Canada,
md suggests unit PLAN for a rural
county in this country to include;
A rural nursing service, centering at
he county seat, with nurses especially
rained to recognize dangerous symp
oms in prospective mothers.
An accessible county center to which
Mothers could come for information '
bout personal hygiene.
A cottage hospital, or beds in an ac- s
essible general hospital, especially for \
he proper care of abnormal cases. 7
Skilled attendance obtainable by each :
nother in the county.