Evening star., 1918-03-31
Cldrens Yea" Campaign to Save Babies Will Be Launched Sat-

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of the work being done. In 1914 the
death rate was 105 per 1000 births;
the rate for 1915. slightly higher, 10.
In 1915, however. il fell to ninety-one
deaths per 1000 births. the lowest rate
for any year on record
In Scotland measures looking tward
the care of infants and mothers have
been carried out, with a marked de-
cline in the mortality rate In 1914
the rate was Ill per 1000 births: in
1915 it rose to l26, and then in 1915 it
That was 0 points lower than any
previous mortality rate recorded for
Scotland.
In France available reports deal
chiefly with the work done in Paris.
Infant welfare and maternal work was
organized there in August. 1914, and
its aims were to provide social, legal
and medical protection for all women
and children, "to be sure that no woman
is ignored and no child is forgotten"
Results Of this work have insured tn
creased attention and care of mothers
and babies, the mortality of both In
fants and mothers having decreased
during the first year of war. During
the second year the mortality rate was
less than during the first year. while
there was also decline in the NOR \
tality during the early months of life!
-
War-stricken Belgium. through relief
work, has been remarkable in keeping
down infant mortality. The organiza-
ton of the work for children has been
divided into canteens for nursing and
expectant mothers. canteens instituted
Tor infants under three years. in which
there are more than $4,000 infants re-
ceiv1ng milk and cereals. New Zea-
land and Canada have also done a great
work
President Wilson has written a letter
to the national child labor committee
setting forh his stand on the mainte-
nance of labor standards, in reference
10 women and children. He said: "As
the labor situation created by the war
develops l am more interested than
ever, II that were possible. in throwing
all the safeguards possible around the
labor of women and children in order
that no intlerable or injurious burden
may be placed upon them. / am, there
Tore. very glad. indeed, that the natioHaI
child labor committee is diligently con-
tinuing its labors and extending it's
vigilance in this important matter. BY
doing so it is contributing to efficiency
ana economy of production, as well as
TO the preservation of life and health"
MISS Julia c. Lathrop. chief of the
cnlldrens bureau, says: 1T is realized
by all concerned that the standards OF
child protection must not be relaxed
during war time, and the United States
is expected to profit by the experience
OF other warning countries. where the
Importance of safeguarding childhood
is emphasized as never before. The
safeguarding and protection of children
is looked upon as a patriotic duty in
view of the unavoidable waStage of hu-
man life incident to war.
After the nations soldiers are pro-
v1ded for, the second year of the war
should be dedicated by the civilian
I1of 20 t6a lives NJ
the nations children. Is there any
greater patriotic duty for the civilian
population than to safeguard the well
fare of the nations ch4ldren?"
Miss Lathrop considers one of the
most remarkable developments of the
war-"a victory not heralded on front
pages" as she ,sses il, yet which
in time to com IL be noted by all
of infant life in England during the
second year OF the war.
The report of the chief medical officer
of the local government board. S!r Ar
thur Newsholme. published in 1917.
shows for one sanitary district after
another throughout England and wales
the number of babies who died before
the war, those who died the first year OF /,
the war and the deaths for the second
year of the war-1916
The first year of the war the report .
shows, resulted in large increase in
the number of babies who died. But IN
the second year. Wnen INC lON<lA 6ON-
ernment board was enabled to grant
financial aid othe various sanitary
and to secure cooperation in
its policy of health visitors for every
mother and baby, of health centers for
of hospital care for SICK
mothers and babies, the rate went
down not only far below the rate for
the year before, but far below the rate
previous to the war.
AS the United States became moro
deeply involved in the war prepara-
tions and the needs for conserving to
the utmost her food supply for herself
and allies became more apparent, COM
plants came from many sections or
the country, and even from the capital,
that mothers, patriotically attempting
to follow out the food conservation
program, confused by administration
suggestions, were actually undernour-
Ishing their children
1t was then that the Department OF
Agriculture undertook its child con-
servation" suggestions, which are being
freely circulated and it is hoped VIII
eventually reach every mother in the
and. These suggestions for the feed
ng of young children, while worked out
IN scientific basis, have been formu-
ated in practical, simple manner. SO
Is not to confuse, and are expected to
10 much to prevent improper neurish-
nent of future citizens during the war.