Middletown transcript., 1917-05-05
INFANT WELFARE

JuSC now, when Cu0 TWO VIAL SuUJCSI0
of national defense and production are
engaging the public mind as never be-
fore, it is we'll to remember that neither
of these subjects would be of any i'm
portance were it not for one Of prior
right to consideration-the baby.
The baby IS the man, the woman, the
home, the nation. Trite though it be-
nevertheless there is terrific force in
the statement that if we neglect the
prime factor in national existence and
rare progress.
The quickest way to weaken people
is to oneglect the babies. And the quick
est way to strengthen a nation is to
properly care for the babies.
So comes that that Baby Week this
vear-in most places, observed during
May-has a larger meaning than here
tofore. Not because babies are more
valuable now than they always have
been, but because our war awakened
sence of values and helps US to appraise
them more nearly at their true worth.
And at the same time to recognize more
clearly and fully the supremacy OF
motherhood.
For the last two decades civilized
countries have been absorbed in the
problem Of preventing the enormous
and needless waste of human life re-
presented by their infant death rates.
The Importance of this problem has
been felt more keenly the last two
wears in the countries now at war; IN
these countries the efforts toward saw
ing the lives of babies have redoubled
since the war began.
| 1t is now realized that large proper
ton Of the deaths of babies occur in the
| first days and weeks of life. Moreover,
| in the progress Of work for the preven-
ton of infant mortality it has become
ever clearer that all such work is usefu
only in so far as it helps the mother tt
care better for her baby. 1t must be
plain, then, to what degree the sick
ness or death of the mother lessons the
chances of the baby for life and health
Thousands of children beside war or
phans and refugees have been directly
affected by the war, according to re
ports from beligerent countries. Ju
venile delinquency has increased, more
children have been employed under ad
verse conditions, special measures hav'
been necessary to protect the health o
mothers and babies, and home life ha
been broken up by the increased EN-
ployment of mothers.
The relation between infancy ant
childhood is so intimate that even the
most careless observer cannot help be
ing impressed with the child betterlns
results which are to be gotten through
proper care of infants. And while it il
not probable that this country will b.
subjected to such suffering and privatiol
as have marked the course of the wa
in many of the lands over seas, neve
the less all we may have to spend in live
and money will be well inves ted if i
gains for us nothing more than a fal
estimate Of the value of the baby.
That, indeed, is the chief reason 70
Baby Week-to impress upon peOpl
generally the worthwhileness of giving
! the young Americans every possiol
chance to develop into men and womel
whose physical well-being will engende
mental prowess and moral rectitude.
In thousands of American commu
mites, from our largest cities to small
villages, this campaign to arouse deepe
interest in babies and their welfare will
be energetically carried on this year.
1t is a striking fact that while th'
great war has set back the hands of th'
clock in many lines of social work, i
, has at the same time focused attention
upon the problem of infant welfare. Il
England we learn that more infant wei
fare centres have been established sine,
the war broke out than ever before il
the same length Of time-that they ar
formed at the rate of four or five pc
week. This, of course, was due to th
sudden realization of the significance o
infant welfare.
We are all talking and thinking abou
I preparedness. Let us not forget tha
no other form of preparedness is NOR
vital than the conservation of human
lives, on whom in the last analysis mus
r depend the safety of the nation, from
foes within as well as foes from without
: Infant welfare days May 18th an
5 10th, IN the Assembly room of the Mid
4 dletown Public school at two o'clock.