Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-06-15

With 20 children in the hospital and IA
the kindergarten, the Babies Hospital
: overcrowded and an addition rs an mn
oerative need Whether il can be accom-
plished within any reasonable length OF
inc is not known as it will require con
siderable funds TO make the necessary
'hanges and additions This institution
Vas recently investigated by the Russell
sage Foundation. and the report made
VAS most interesting. IL makes recon-
mendations for an increased capacity. and
;or n system of children 5 records. and pre-
nmnarv investigation of families, all OF
which requires an increase of funds The
report. which makes very interesting
reading follows:
The Babies Hospital, as the institution
popularity called, conducts three-told
work for white children of any denom-
nation First, hospital for sick and dc
pendent children under three years OF age,
second a dav nursery Tor needy children
between the ages OF three and SIN years.
third. kindergarten for the day nursery
children and others between three and SiN
wears.
The buildings comprise two large
three-stOrv brick houses, which have az
indoor connection. The rooms III both
houses arc large. light and we'll ventilated
There are good sized porctcs on the sid"
and rear Of the house used for the Babies
Hospital. and grounds sufficiently large
for tho childrens play
''Thc institution is supported largely
hv private contributions; also 10y An
annual appropriation OF $500 from the
State. interest from small endowment
and payment by relatives for the care 81
inmates 4 payment Of 81 so per week. or
a part Of IT. is asked where the parents or
guardians can pay something. but a ms
joritv of the children are admitted free
During 1916 the hospital received 329
children. of whom % were paid for IN full,
SIS in part, and l76 were free inmates
The hospital has - beds. Ii IS in
reality a combination of hospital and
orphanagc rs only part of the children are
actually sick when entered, although
nearly all are il-nourished, angmic and IN
need Of building up. Of the SO received
during 1916. 1910 were sick.
''TWenty-six children were IN the hos
pital at the close of the year: Of these
eight were full orphans or half orphans
IA were the victims OF parental dcsertion
or separation; one had been cruelty
treated; and three were destitute because
of parental illness and poverty. The
average number il ere during the year
was %, and the average length OF stay
m the hospital d days.
All applications for admittanoe are in
vestigstcd by tho superintendent, usually
by correspondence, and are then passed
upon by Q visiting committee. The chill
dren upon leaving are either returned to
their own homes or. Il IN need of further
institutional care after reaching the age
of three years, are transferred to the
Home for Friendiess and Destitute Chill
Gren.
MORTALITY RECORD.
The superintendent Is graduate nurse
and is assisted by seven young women
~ho receive their training Ii nursing In
the institution. Medical service is fur
nished free by four leading practitioners
of Win ington, who take turns in their
attendance for periods Of three months
Zach. The mortality record OF the hos
pitaI has been low as compared with that
of other similar institutions throughout
the country During 1916 SIX children
died, OF whom FIVE were under one year OF
age and one had reached two years,
mortality rate of less than per cent of
the total number received. Considering
the facts that the physical condition of
nearly aii the children st entrance Is poor.
that they are received from the age OF
birth up and that they average less than
one half years Of age, the mortality
record is eYcellently low, even though the
average length Of stay OF child in the
hospital Is but IS days.
WORKING MOTHERS
The Dav Nursery cares for children
during the day while their mothers.
mostly Italians and Jews living in vii
mington, go out to work. The women
bring the children to the nursery between
q AID O'Clock in the morning and call
for ITEM in the late afternoon. 4 few paw
FIVE cents a day for their children's care,
but most receive the service free Each /
child is gwen lunch OF crackers and milk .
at ! a m, dinner at 80 D m and
milk or bread and butter at md-afternoon.
Children are not received from mothers
who do not 20 out TO work unless the latter
are sick The capacity Of the Day Nursry
% and the average number in charge
turing the past year was Is
The kindergarten Is conducted for the all .
Day Nursery children and also for others
rom poor homes. A trained teacher and /