Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-06-13
BUSY DAY AT
CHILD WELFARE
CONFERENCE

Wednesday, despite the rain, prov
ed a busy day at the rooms of the
Child Welfare conference where u
babies were weighed and measured
under the direction of DR.. D. B.
Cragin and DIR. j. E. Poulin. with
Mrs Willette and others assisting.
More appointments are made for To-
day and as usual physicians and
nurses will be on hand.
In the afternoon Hon. Horace Pur-
inton presided and introduced DR.. A.
G. Young Of Augusta Of the State
health department, who gave a talk
on the Importance of birth reguistra-
ton and said that many times death
certificates came in when there had
been no record of the child's birth.
He said that in many cases he had rs
quested doctors to see if they coul1
ascertain for him where the child
was born and that there had been a
general response DR. Young said that
he believed that child welfare work
ers. Parent Teacher associations ami
other workers could give great deal
Of help to the birth registration de
Eartment which would be much Ap-
prcciated. He suggested a census II
the city on the part Of the Child Wei
fare Association to find dcinquents
in birth registration.
Miss Louise Is Matthews tod sto
ries to children for period At
o'clock il the afternoon. which WerH
much enjoyed,
In the evening Hon. F. +. Boothpy
presided and introduced DR. Ralph L.
Reynolds who gave a fine paper on
the Care of the Mother and Child"
DR.. Reynolds said that there is ma
tional call for better obstetrics, and
gave some startling facts in regard
to this department of the medical
profession. He stated that in a year
there had been 1875 deaths due to
childbirth and nearly one-half of
these were due TO blood poisoning
and that already plans are on foot to
make childbirth more safe.
In the care of the child DR.. Rey-
nolds said that more children under
one year Of age die of intestinal
September than all the rest of the
y ear. He gave the deciding points of
a normal baby and gave many points
on diet, clothing. He advised that
babies should not walk too young,
that they should have a nap during
the day until it became time for him
to go 10 school, and have plenty of
fresh air.
Mrs. Leona 5. Wheaton. manager
of the Little Wanderers Home spoke
on The Problem Of the Unmarried
Mother" She said it seemed to be a
surprise to many TO think there are
any unmarried girls, but in fact 20
per cent. of the cases which are
handled in their office are of un-
mothers.
Mrs. Wheaton told her personal
experiences with some of these I'M
fortunate girls which were thrilling
in the extreme and awakened a great
in her work.
She referred to the fact that in some
states an unmarried father is obliged
TO take care of her child and the mother.
and said that when a like law should
be passed in Maine there v~ould be less
pital and law to hold a man | hope
You people will DO more FOR these moth
ers, Some people think that these girls
never make good. but they do make
good and make place for themselves
in the world many times.
Today the r:orning will he given over
10 the weighing and measuring Of chill
dren. and in the afternoon Miss Agnes
Mcdonald, nurse for the Metropolitan
Life Insurance Co. will give demon
stration Of how to make a he'd. how to
change bed clothing with patient in
bed and how to battle baby.
DR.. J. F. Hill will give a talk on the
care Of the eve, ear and nose and at
o'clock Miss Matthews will conduct
story hour. In the evening DR.. o. E.
Ames will talk on Nervousness in Chill
dren and What It Means" after which
there will be questions and discussions
an Physical Training in the Home"
will be the subject OF an address by
Dr. Ethel Walters.