The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-15

Baby Welfare League.
At the annual meeting of the Baby
Welfare league. held February Z.
1917. the following officers were
elected:
Madalene McGrath, president;
Madalene Marley, vice president;
Celestine Agnew, secretary; Mary
Louise Kiedaisch, treasurer.
1t was decided that the league pay
all expenses of Baby week, which
was to be held in Keokuk the third
week in May. Plans were made for
series of matinee dances and
card party to secure funds for that
purpose. Committees were appoint
ed to help with the baby parade. and
with the mothers meetings held at
the schools during this week.
We also agreed to cooperate with
the v. N. A. in employing Miss
Henke for special work during the
summer months. Milk and ice were
furnished during the summer when
the nurses reported need for them.
In September, committees were
appointed to visit the lower grades
Of the schools during the winter and
supply shoes and stockings where
they are needed. The league is very
grateful to Mr. A. H. Rich who has
sent check every month to be used
for this purpose. Donations have
also been received from Mrs. p. Car
roll Taber, Mr.. Francis Perry Elliott
and Rev. James Gillespie.
In October, it was decided to buy
yarn and work it up into knitted
articles for French and Belgian
babies.
During the year child suffering
from nervous breakdown, and a
woman and her baby were sent to
the hospital for treatment at our ex-
pense. At least two members have
been present to assist at the monthly
mothers meetings and the Baby
Welfare leasue had charge of the
sale of Red Cross seals in the post
office.
Nine babies were received as mem
bers this year, making total Of
eighteen babies on the junior roll.
MADELINE McGRATH.
District, Metropolitan and Tubercu-
losis Work.
December 81. 1917, closes the fifth
year Of the v. N. A. in Keokuk. Two
nurses are engaged In the work
regularly, and third one is added
whenever necessary.
One hundred and ninety-two
patients in the district, and eighty
seven in the Metropolitan service
were visited and all sorts of cases
cared for, from a cut on the hand,
inflicted by the brand new Christmas
knife. and which required but one
dressing, to the serious cases of
typhoid which required daily care
for weeks AS usual, our maternity
cases were the most numerous.
There were forty-three of these.
Then we had the usual quota of dis
eases of the respiratory tract, gas
tro-intestinal disorders, fractures,
burns. post-operative care of patients
able to be dismissed from the hos
pital but not yet able to care for
themselves, abscessed ears, bad
throats, etc.
These 279 patients come under
four heads-those who pay for their
own care; those whose possession of
Metropolitan industrial life insur-
ance policy entities them to nursing
service. those who are entitled to 1t
because an employer furnishes 1t for
his employees and their families (and
of these we have had thirty-seven
cases in 1910, and those who can
not pay, and for whom no special
provision is made. To these last we
are always glad to go, but 1t is in
part due to the first three classes
| that the service is made available
| for the fourth.
Only eight of our welfare babies
were unfortunate enough to be on the
sick list and have to be carried as
| v. N. A. cases.
For some time past, the board OF
| the v. N. A. has felt that tubercu-
losis was more prevalent in keokuk
than is generally realized, so after
some months correspondence with
II the Anti-Tuberculosis society Of
Iowa. one Of their nurses was sent
here June /, 1917, for survey OF
Loo county Miss Henke was eni-