Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-16

M death of babies is the most sinister OF
w calamities following the wake of prolonged
war, because it is the ultimate result of all other
war evils and because it renders virtually impotent
all efforts toward reconstruction. The babies of
today the nation of tomorrow-upon them will
fall the task of guiding it through the rock ridden
channels of the next generation If the children of
the present age made strong, virile and ade-
quately equipped, the nation will pass safely
through the difficult course; if they weak, un-
dernourished and mentally underdeveloped the
nation must look forward to decline and perhaps
to decay.
Realizing fully the seriousness of the situation,
the government is devoting a tremendous
deal of attention to the work of saving the babies
of the United States Through the children's bu-
reau of the department of laobr, and the womens
committee of the council of national defense, it is
efecting great organization for this purpose. 1t
has already enlisted than eleven million
women and provided more than 1890 local units.
In many instances the jurisdiction of these units
has been narrowed down to twenty-five families,
and when the organization is complete, each moth
in America will be assured of expert instruction
in the of her children.
OF necessity, large part of the child welfare
campaign will be directed toward the large indus
trial centers of the country, where, owing to de-
plorable housing conditions lack of proper rec
reation areas and other causes, infant mortality
figures show signs of taking an alarming increase.
An illustration of this is given in a report by Miss
Estelle B. Hunter to the children's bureau, of an
investigation into conditions prevalent in Water
Dury, Conn. Waterbury is typical of the eastern
city caught unaware5 by the overnight development
OF gigantic war industries.
Causes of infant mortality in Waterbury, de-
tailed by Miss Hunter, are catholic enough to adj
nit OF general application. The predominating
medical causes were gastric and intestinal dis
cases, and closely following (almost third of all
reported), were congenital debility and pre-
mature birth The first causes imply improper
of the infant, particularly in regard to feed
ing, and cOngenital debility indicates improper
care of the mother during the period before birth
Such conditions themselves the evolution of
other conditions, for example, poverty, faulty
vironment, ignorance and neglect.
Of course, all infant deaths cannot be directly
traced to these conditions, but they undoubt-
eddy a considerable factor in many of them. Gas
trio diseases and intestinal disorders are largely
preventable and usually the result of improper
feeding. In this connection might be mentioned
the problem Of artificial feeding. The best authori-
ties this subject prescribe that, wherever pos
sble, babies should be fed from the breast but
where weakness on the part of the mother or other
reasons prevent this, artificial feeding should be
administered with the greatest care. Many
mothers who unable to buy a good grade of
cows milk, substitute condensed milk for their
babies. Infants fed condensed milk often be-
come fat, but rule they show feeble resistance
to the attacks of disease. Authorities say that
there few children fed exclusively on condensed
milk who do show evidence of ricketts, and its
prolonged use sometimes results in scurvy
Ignorance, and with it fatalistic acceptance of
death, is another large contributor to the high
rate of infant mortality. This particularly true
of foreign born mothers Miss Hunter tells of one
mother of Waterburys Lithuanian colony who lost
five children--all of them fed from the start from
the bottle. For their deaths she gave the laconic
explanation stomach trouble" Another mother
informed the investigators that her six months old
baby had died of severe cold. The death certii-
cate of this child showed "malnutrition and
bronchitis"
About thirty-two per cent of all infant deaths
in Waterbury due to conditions before birth
or to accident at birth. Just hoy many of these
deaths might have been prevented the children's
bureau cannot estimate, but it believes that a
large proportion of them might have been averted
had proper been taken of the mothers Moth
ers should be educated in the of themselves
during pregnancy, and throughout this state should