South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-23
The Children, S Year
BY WOODS HUTCHINSON, NJ. d.

seven years in many of our Amer
lean cities.
In New York city for instance the
infant death rate during the first
years has been brought down from
125 per thousand in 1910, to IS. per
1000 i'll 1917. These mere cold fig
ures may not SEEM very impressive,
but they mean a saving of nearly
5000 little lives a year in New YORK
city alone. in other words that the
metropolis is already doing it's bit"
and if our other cities and states
keep pace the children's year drive
for 100000 lives is as good as won
The saving made during the later
periods of child life, in the seven
years. that is, for children under five
years from AZ per 1000 to 80. for
those under 10 years from 10 to
II. were proportionately even
larger, though not so impressive in
actual numbers, for the death rate
goes down with a sudden drop after
the first year, and keeps on going
down steadily thereafter for a good
many years. Indeed by a curious
paradox the death rate does not
again rise to its infantile level until
nearly three scores years and 10.
On the face of the mortality re-
turns it is more dangerous to be a
baby than an octogenarian
One most significant fact which
challenges attention is that over 40
per cent of the total infant deaths
for the first year occur in the first
month of life, most of them clearly
due TO parental causes, or conditions
and influences existing before birth.
Hence special stress is now being
laid by thoughtful experts upon the
prenatal stage and its protection and
care.
II is urged that pregnancy be
made a reportable condition and
sympathetic and tactful nurses or
other women visitors call upon the
expectant mother, advise her how
to protect her health and that of
the coming life. To avoid over
work and yet get plenty Of fresh air
and exercise, Danish her baseless
dread of birth-marks due to ma
ternal impressions" select and get
in touch with her doctor and nurse
so as TO detect and prevent any dis
eases threatening a successful con-
inement at the earliest symptom Of
trouble. What diet to adopt and
how TO prepare in every way for
the health and safety of the coming
life.
The Massachusetts state depart
ment Of health for instance has in
addition prepared a series OF letters
covering these subjects one for each
successive month, which will be sent
on request to any physician or any
patient whose address he may send.
So successful has this prenatal
work already proved that in some
English towns and villages the
death-rate during the first month
has been cut down in the most as
tonishing manner. almost 20 the van
ishing point in fact
II goes without saying that such
campaign could hardly be more
timely and vitality necessary than
today as a means OF counter balanc-
ing the losses and ravages OF war
The experience OF most OF the
belligerent countries has already
shown that after the upheavsl and
disruption OF the. first year or so Of
war. with its paralysis OF all peace
full health and life-saying activ-
tiles. there came a quick reaction.
The lowered birth-rate and the pit
iful waste OF life in war, gave a
higher value 10 child life, made IL
possible 20 secure increased appro-
priauons from the government and