The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-15
the work for few weeks after she


age of twenty-six deaths per year
from tuberculosis in Keokuk, which
means that we have here now, five
or more times that number who have
been infected, and who in turn, are
spreading the infection to those
around them.
Twenty-six cases of tuberculosis
were located during the survey last
June. Four cases were under the
care of the nurses prior to that time,
and six have come under our care
since September 1, making total
of thirty-six cases. But this, we
know, must be but small percent
age Of the cases here in Keokuk.
Since June 1, five of these thirty
six have died, six have left the city,
and the others are receiving such
care and instruction as the case
seems to demand.
Four cases. have made marked i'm
provement, and seem to be able to
go about their usual work without
any discomfort.
In Fort Madison and the rest of
the county, thirty-five more cases
were found, several of which were so
far advanced as to be decided men
ace to all who have come In contact
with them.
Three patients from here were in
Oakdale when the survey was made.
One Of these has been dismissed and
is in an excellent condition. The
other two are still there.
Twice since June, the nurses have
accompanied patient who was I'M
able to travel alone to Oakdale. one
of these was an INDECENT patient and
her outfit was largely furnished by
the tuberculosis committee Of the ".
N. A. Both were advanced cases,
who stayed in the sanatorium but
short time and have since died.
Special diet and clothing have
been furnished in several cases by
the tuberculosis committee. This is
made possible by the sale of Red
Cross seals.
Since June 1 there have been 46O
calls made on tuberculosis patients or
in their interest. Before Christmas,
ninety-nine investigation calls were
made for the community Christmas
work. In the district there were
1925 calls made and in the Metro
politan service 1856, making the total
number Of calls for the year 1920.
We realize that the tuberculosis
work is very small, but we are mop
ing to see it grow. The sooner it can
be brought under even partial con-
troll, the sooner the awful tax in both
human lives and money that is levied
by the white plague" can be re-
duced.
MARY F. ALEXANDER.
Infant Welfare Department Of the
v. N. A.
In the infant welfare department OF
the Visiting Nurse association, the
nurses have made 987 visits. or TINS
number $40 were prophylactic visits;
fifty-four prenatal; eighteen feedlng'
and forty-five were for maternal AID.
Just very few of our babies nave
had supplementary feeding, ana tnat
only for short time.
We began the year with sixty-slx
babies under two years OF age. Dur-
ing the year we have added thirty
new babies to our list, making ninety
six babies cared for by our nurses
We also cared for thirteen babies
that were not our own babies, rang
ing from six weeks to fifteen months.
who had some disturbance caused by
improper feeding. Either the child
was being over-fed, irregularly fed
or the food itself did not agree with
that particular child. To these thir-
teen babies, the nurses made sixty
five calls.
Our own ninety-six babies plus
thirteen, make a total of LOT babies
cared for by nurses in 1917. During
the year two babies have died; one
was an infant nine days old, who
seemed to be in perfect health IN the
morning when the nurse made her
closing visit on the case, but was
taken suddenly i'll at noon and died
of pneumonia at midnight the same
day, The other child was an infant
six weeks old who contracted measles
from another little brother and died
in a few hours.
At the close Of the year we find
that we have dismissed forty-eight
babies in the following way:
Twenty-Five were over age, twenty
one left the city, and two died. This
leaves US a balance of forty-elgAt
babies to begin the new year. and
twenty-eight of these were born IN
1917. We probobly will have super
vision OF six Of the other thirteen
babies cared for by the nurses as
they are under two years.
Only four mothers meetings were
held this past year on account OF
the small pox epidemic here IN the
late winter and very early spring.
and the physicians and nurses ala
not think it prudent to continue the
meetings.
Much assistance has been rendered
the nurses by the members OF the
Baby Welfare league. Inc league
had special charge of the Better
Baby week" which was observed from
sunday, May 10, to Friday evening,
inclusive.
When we speak of baby visits we
mean only visits to well babies, and
in case we find it to be a sick baby.
possibly only very slight attack of
something, the nurses make out v.
N A. card for that baby, and carry
It as a patient until 1t has fully re-
covered from the present illness
MAUD M. BROWN.
49, uo,oker q Anorfs