Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-09
GREAT HOST OF
BABES in 1917,
RECORDS PROVE
Net Increase in Population in
Country Estimated at
Million

New York-Infant mortality sta
tistics compiled by the New York
Milk Committee reveal the fact that
| throughout the United States in
1917. Basing it's conclusion on the
figures CLEANED from 163 of the
| largest cities in the country, the
committee estimates that the number
of births throughout the nation to-
tailed 2,67S,000 and the number of
deaths, 1,64S,00O, leaving a national
/ invease in population of over 1,00O,-
600.
New York City's baby death rate
for the year was the lowest in its
history, the committees statistics
showing 4,041 fewer deaths for the
greater city than in 1907. and that
in spite of the fact that during the
81 Intervening years the population
OF the metropolis increased with
rapid strides.
In 1907 New York's infant NOR
tality rate was 1858. Last year it
was only SS.S. This decrease the
committee attributes to the wide
spread application of the parental
treatment which it introduced and
which is now being carried on by
the Maternity Center Association in
connection with the Milk Committee
and other organizations.
Four Boroughs Gain
Last year 12,5 sos babies under one
year of age died in this city,
whereas in 1907 the deaths totaled
10000. While there was an i'm
provement in the death rate in all
the five boroughs of the city, ex-
cepting the Bronx, where there was
an unexpected increase of more
than five points, the most marked
decrease was shown by Manhattan
where the rate fell from 1922 in
1916 to 94' in 1917.
The steady fall of the baby
death rate in Manhattan" says j.
II. Larson, secretary of the New
York Milk Committee, in his report,
lis proof conclusive that medical
and nursing care for expectant
mothers gives the baby square deal
from the start. Organized welfare
work in many parts of the country
shows gratifying results but this is
particularly true of the outcome
fseveral years efforts here in New
ork
with the government fathering
a national drive to save 100000 ba-
bies during this the second year of
America participation in the war,
the infant mortality rate for 1918
should reveal a further decrease.
This. is the time when the need of
parental care should be spread
everywhere, for healthy babies are
! the only means whereby the nation
can hope to preserve its population
in the face of the loss of thousands
of men in battle and the surcease of
immigration"
An analysis of the 163 cities whose
statistics form the basis of the COM
mittee's report shows that the NUM-
cipalities with populations under
10000 have the best environment for
children and that the death rate
among babies in the bigger cities,
where poor people are more abund-
ant and living conditions more con-
geSted, is comparatively high. Cities
under $4,000 in 1917 had an aver
age death rate of 90.9; those from
$4,000 to 100000, ga. and those
with a population over 100000, 9S.2.
Omaha Has Honor Place
Among the cities of the last
named class Omaha claims first
place with a death rate of only SO.
rate of 59.2. Nashville, Tenn, had
the highest rate. 1922. Seventeen
other big cities showed death rates
of over 100 per thousand for 1917.
They are: Chicago, 1864; Phila-
delphia, 10; Cleveland, 104.9 Balti-
more, 1913; Pittsburgh, 1852; De-
troit, 1896; Buffalo, 1887; New Or
leans, 11S.5; Jersey City, 1888:
Louisville, 11O.5; Syracuse, 1919;
Birmingham, 1915; Memphis, 1857;
Richmond. 134.5; Fall River, 1898;
Grand Rapids, 134.9 and Albany,
1882.
The five honor roll cities boasting
death rates under so per thousand
are Berkeley. Cal. with a popula-
ton of 4O,434, 434; Everett Mass.
with population OF 33.4S4, 45.5;
Brookline, Mass, with a population
of S7,792, 41.2: Tlameda. Cal, with
a population of 23,3S3, 40.7 and La
Cross, Wis, with population of
30,417 42.2.