New Britain herald., 1917-10-07
COMMUNICATED.
SUCCESS OF MILK STATION.
New Britain Organization Performin,
Wonderful work AMONG Babies.

Wonderful work Among Babies.
To the Editor Of Herald:
feel that the citizens Of New Brit
ain should have Information as to
what the Infant Welfare and Milk
Station Association Of New Britain
has done for its babies since last May.
The station has been a very busy
place although the work has gone on
quietly and little said concerning it.
We carried over from January to the
first of May 108 babies and since
then to the present time the nurses
have had on an average Of 215 under
care, but at times more. Amongst
that number have been many very
sick babies and they were cared for
from one day to three weeks at the
station in an especial room fitted out
for that purpose. So with watchful
care there, and at the homes under
the supervision Of the nurses, we
have lost but ono and that little one
was brought in in a most critical con-
dition. Food for so babies q day Of
a special formula have been prepared
at the station. for this year the babies
seem more frail than usual and espe-
cial attention has had to be given to
the diet.
Many mothers have called simply
for advice and they come to depend
moro and more upon help given them
by Miss O'Dell and so calls day at
the station by them have been an
average number. Thirty babies a
week were weighed.
Saturday afternoons little mothers
classes were held, "a attending and
given instruction in bathing baby,
clothing baby. preparing baby's food,
selecting baby's food. making baby's
bed. first aid to sick baby and they
also visited a modern dairy. These
lessons can not fail but be Of great
benefit to the little girls who have
to care for their baby brother Or sis
ter. and we hope to continue them
through the winter, as there will be
a greater necessity for them at the
present time, for mothers come to
the station daily whose husbands have
been drafted, so they will have to
work out or enter the factory and
tho baby will have to be left without
it's mothers care.
The question is so often asked, how
is this work carried on. and how are
the finances raised" 1t is by volun-
tary contributions entirely with the
exception of $3.50 given by the city
| the past summer, and to continue the
work we need money, for, perhaps
| due to the Red Cross and contribu-
| tons for abroad, our contributions
have fallen off. The work has grown
50 rapidly that two nurses have to
be employed and their whole time is
| given in keeping In constant touch
with our babies and all mothers wish
ing assistance or advice they are
ready to help, for all this work Is
educational and preventative.
! Infant Welfare work is uppermost
i in the minds OF England at the pres
ent day, for. although engulfed in
war, she does not fail to realize the
ried on and also poor France is doing
all she can to save her own and
from our own country physicians and
nurses are going there especially to
study Infant Welfare conditions and
! to alleviate the suffering amongst
! them. The question arises are we in
this country paying sufficient atten-
ton to the necessity OF Infant Welfare
| work and are we doing all we should
| in New Britain? OF course, with but
| one station, we can not reach all we
should but they are brought from
! different sections of the city, showing
| the necessity for 1t, SO let us not for
get our babies and, although there
are those who feel they can not give
much to support it, give your little.
for every little helps, and contribu-
| tons can be left with Miss O'Dell at
the Milk Station, corner Center and
! East Main streets, Or Miss Whittlesey,
| 279 West Main street. Our babies
will be the future citizens of New
Britain, if they are cared for and
| properly fed now it will help them
to be healthier and stronger and. in
stead of burden to our city, be a
| help.
| MRS. IRA E. HICKS.