The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-10
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INTERPRETATIONS BUREAU
By FREDERIC j. HAsKTN, Director.
Washington. ID. C.
MILK FOR BABIES NEEDED.

MILK FOR BABIES NEEDED.
Washington, D. c.. Dec. 1.-THE
news that many American babies are
now going without milk because of
| its high price is a matter of grave
alarm to the United States Children's
Bureau. which has just Issued the
following warning:
Milk is the one food that all young
children must have if they are 70 De
strong and healthy. Whole milk IS
rich in the elements without which
the child's growth ceases and MS
health is impaired; indeed, there Is
no food which can supply as well the
needs of the growing child There IS
no substitute for milk in the diet OF
babies and young children.
| This is excellent advice. NO chllo
specialist would think of disputing it.
But at the present time it is expensive
and investigation has shown that a
large number of parents are unable
to act upon it. They would be glad
to buy milk for their babies if they
/ could. but they cannot afford it at
the price of fifteen cents quart. and
so they have substituted tea and cof-
fee in the place of it, Tea and cotfee
stimulate the babies and keep them
! quiet They also ruin their stomachs
4 and starve them.
The mayors committee on milk of
New York City recently conducted
some investigations on the increased
price of milk in relation to its con-
sumption. Its research included 2,2OO
| families all with children under six
year old. Out of these more than
half were found to be giving their
children tea and coffee in the place
of milk, nearly half were taking from
one-fourth to one-half less milk than
families had stopped taking milk en-
tirely.
Milk Absolutely Necessary.
! This means that in 40 families out
| of 2,200, children were being under
nourished, since milk is absolutely
necessary to the normal growth of a
| child. UndernOurishment, especially
in childhood. is the basis of many
, evils. Sometimes when the brain
cells are starved. it results in feeble
mindedness;, it is conducive to tuber-
culosis. to weak muscles and weak
character. 1t is the leading cause of
inefficiency
New York is not the only city where
/ the high price of milk has made it
prohibitive for many babies. One
Chicago dealer reports that on GER
tain day in September he distributed
1000 quarts of milk. On the same
day in October, a higher price hav-
/ ms gone into effect, he distributed
| only 2, 500 quarts. In New England
town the sale of milk was so reduced
{ Il
quart that the dealers had to lower
I it again.
The milkmen. of course. are not de-
liberately and with malice afore-
thought starving these children and
babies. They are not, as far as can
4 be ascertained by the United States
department of agriculture. coming
any unreasonable profits. Costs have
advanced in the dairy business. 1t
! has been pointed out that in many
RTF In
cents quart for his milk delivered
at the railroad station. But after he
pays this first cost. he must haul the
milk from the station to his dairy. If
he uses hoFse-drawn delivery wagon.
| there is the cost of feed; an automo-
bile, the cost of gasoline, both rising:
along with the wages of the driver.
Next. the milk must be pasteurized-
coal is used in this process. Then it
must be bottled in costly bottles, and
! delivered at a thousand different ad-
dresses
But if the millmen are not con-
sciously starving these babies, neither
are their parents. Occasionally. Won
may find case where the absence of
milk is due to ignorance-the family
!aiIs TO realize its importance in the
infants debut these are rare Our
national baby weeks have been too
successful for that 1t is simply that
/ the family can't afford it
Welfare at Home Important.
I Wages are probably higher now
than they have ever been before, but
the prices Of foodstuffs manage to
keep little ahead of them Few
| workmen, even earning a COMPARE
lively high wage. can afford to pay
nine dollars a month for milk for
four children. Yet nine dollars would
buy only pint of milk a day for each
of these children.
fhacQ oiy-
welfare workers are hoping that the
government itself will step in and see
that American babies and children re-
ceive the proper amount of milk.
American men are leaving by the
thousands to fight and protect their
women and children, but of what
avail is it, if in the meantime the
children are allowed to starve at
! home?
The United States is facing the same
situation that has prevailed in Europe
| turnout the war, and the same rem
edy is open to the government that
was adopted by other nations Ger
many, anticipating the shortage of
milk at the beginning of the war,
early started regulating the supply,
All milk, except that used in making
Pcheese, was grouped under four head
ings: % Use of milk by the nurs-
ing mother and the weaned infant;
Cd The use of milk by children from
the second to the twelfth or four
teenth year; C39 The use of milk by
the SICK under the care of a physi-
clan; and (4) The use of milk as a
beverage by healthy adults
German Adults Without 1t.
Needless to say, the use of milk as
a beverage by healthy adults was
frowned upon by the government
which ordered that no milk should be
distributed to this class until the other
three classes had been amply sup
Piled During the past year very lit
tie information has been obtainable
concerning this government regula-
ton, but it is believed that the Ger
man milk supply has become so scarce
that healthy adults have forgotten
the taste of it
In France, also, there has been ar
. alarming milk sea rcifu In pc