Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-15
infant MORTALITY TO
Be GIVEN CLOSE STUDY
Investigating Subject Meets
Hero To-Day.
SPECIAL WARTIME PROBLEMS
Scarcity of Civilian Nurses and Doc
tors Makes Necessary More Gen.
eral Instruction in Proper Care of
Young Babies.


The American Association for the
Study and Prevention OF Infant Nor
tality convenes this morning at 1890
o'clock ut the Jefferson Hotel. This is
the eighth annual conference of the
association, which will remain in SEES
sion through the middle of the day on
Wednesday. About 200 prominent men
of the medical and tho lay world are
expected to attend
The meeting will be one Of the most,
important of its Kind that has con-
vcned here for some time. 1t has been
arranged for the purpose OF discussing
the problems of maternal ana infant
care and welfare, which have been so
aggravated by the war conditions 1t
will be followed Immediately by n
meeting OF the American Public Health
.Associat ton in Washington, in advance
OF which, however, the Richmond con-
ference will especially review the
progress In solving the infant NOR
tality problems and attempt to stimu-
late some sound constructive work for
the permanent and universal benetit of
mothers and children
The war has created such scarcity
Of civilian nurses and doctors In the
United States. and has made such AN
enormous demand on the individuals
and organizations engaged in social
service and general health that this
meeting must be of great interest At
no time shall home be forgotten. the
most important phase OF any States
conservation being the conservation OF
its infants. Therefore, no doubt, the
meeting will result in an extended
and more thorough study OF disease
causes, in the awakening of a more
vital interest, and in the prevention
OF so much deplorable and unncces-
sary infant mortality.
DISCUSS MANY PROBLEMS
OF CARE FOR INFANTS
The problem of disease will receive
special consideration in its relation TO
infant mortality and its prevention as
4 war measure. Prenatal care by pri-
vate and public organizations. special
problems OF infant care in rural COM
munitieS in war time, and many cues
tions dealing with birth registration
and certifcation will he particularly
emphasized by capable medical
scientists. Considerable attention will
be given to the cooperation of pcdia-
trician and obstetrician in preventing
infant mortality in the first month Of
the baby's life, to the general care OF
children of the pre-school age. with
special reference to the needs in this
country and what has been accom-
plished abroad. and to the impressive
problems of nursing and social work
that have presented themselves in the
maternal and infant relationship since
the war began. General programs for
the improving and the maintaining OF
maternal and infant welfare will also
be dwelt on at length.
The committee OF local arrangements
In Richmond consists OF the following:
DR.. Mcclure Newton. professor OF
pediatrics a the Medical College of
virginia. chairman: DR. Roy X Flanna
gan. Chief Health Officer of Richmond.
and Dr. Ennion c.. Williams, State Com
missioner of Health.
Nirginians who will discuss impor-
tant subjects a. the conference are:
Dr. Fiannagan. who VIII speak on the
effects o: the war on problems Of ma
ternal and infant care in rural COM
Hunities: DR.. II. II. Hubs, Of Rich
monc who will discuss the prevention
OF "cnereal diseases as war measure
and Miss Lena Townshend, of Hot
Springs, who will discuss infant and
maternal welfare in the small rural
district.
RED CROSS AND BASE
HOSPITAL NURSES INVITED
The Wednesday morning session will
be devoted to public school education
FOR the prevention of infant mortality.
Mrs. Henrietta Calvin. specialist, Wash
ington. chairman. Other noted econo-
mists Will deal with the social phases
of the general subject. these discus
sions being followed by rouni-table
conference Of the affiliated societies.
Luncheons will be given On Monday.
12:45 to .. and on Tuesday, to Q
o'clock.
Mrs. p. st. George Cooke is the
chairman Of the women's entertain
ment committee.
Tuesday, at 4:30 o'clock. a tea at the
Country Club Of Virginia will be ten
dcred the visiting delegates, and for
that same afternoon is planned an au-
tomobile trip
Red Cross members and all those In
terested in base hospital work and in
maternal and infaat welfare generally
VIII be aSDeCia1ly Interested in tbiS ,,,,