The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-26
u. S. 1919 BABY CROP

Americas baby crop for 1919 prom
ises to he the largest In the history
IT the country. according to the an
nual survey of the New York milk
committee, just completed.
This prediction is made in the face
OF reduction of nearly 100 per cent
in the excess of births over deaths
during 1918 compared with 1917,
This was caused by an unprecedented
n II m b @ of deaths approximating
2. so 900 in. part due to the influenza
epidemic and war conditions.
Computations by the committee
based upon figures obtained from
health officials in 1877 of the largest
cities reveal these facts
That deaths in the United states last
year increased $4,000 over 1917. This
total Is exclusive OF the $4,000 soldiers
who gave their lives on foreign soil
The 400. 600 births occurred in 1913,
an increase of 27.ooo over the previous
year.
That the natural increase in popu-
lation is estimated at 100000 compared
with 600 90 in 1917.
That the general infant mortality
rate. founded upon reports received
from cities comprising rs per cent Of
| the population jumped from s7,5 per
/ thousand births to 104t.
Although estimates show that the
I baby death rate for the country in
| creased seven points. the New York
pik committee believes this figure to
/ be remarkably low when all the ele-
msnts conspiring against him-war
unrest, high cost of food and the in
! auenza epidemic--are carefu y
( weighed The figures tor 1918 re-
fleet increased activity on behalf OF
! the newborn and shows that the cam
( paign Of the federal government to
conserve the lives of 100000 infants
/ during Americas second year OF par
! ticipation in the war was not without
/ its reward. This movement combined
with prenatal care work carried on
with increased zeal by sundry organi-
cations. particularly In the larger
cities shows conclusively that the pub
lies interest in the welfare Of the baby
| is growing steadily.
The baby death rate in the city OF
/ New York. the most cosmopolitan com
| r1unity perhaps in the world. was kept
low despite the high cost of food
stuffs, general war conditions and the
influenza epidemic which was chiefly
responsible for an increase OF nearly
30. 900 deaths OF all ages, the citys dead
for the year numbering 9S,11S The
. city's baby death rate was % per thou
sand which is only three points higher
than that OF the previous twelve
months when a record was estab
I lished. Infant deaths in the metropoli,
last year totaled 1867 compared witt
/ 1865 corrared with 1855 In 1917
| an increase of only eighty-nine
This Is another splendid record
for the country's greatest city" saic
]. II. Larson. secretary of the commit
tee. land is but still further proof tha'
the chances of the newborn to live IN
spite OF congestion and compile,
problems of life can be improved i'm
measurably by the adoption of &
program Of scientific prenatal care
7 proper safeguarding OF the milk sup
ply and the maintenance of milk sta
| tons for the babies. New York city
is fast assuming its rightful place a.
the center Of infant welfare work
Through the efforts OF It's health au
thorities, and private infant welfare
organizations associated in the work
1t is setting an example that other
communities cannot help but follow
The public conscience Is fas
| awakening to a full realization of the
value of infant life. and Americas
baby crop for this year promises te
be the largest in its history. In New
York city the reports for the first sir
, deaths compared with the same period
in 1918. Similar reductions are being
! reported in many other cities.
/ There are two main public health
activities that count most in prevent
: ing unnecessary loss of infant and
maternal life. First--a safe milk sup
/ ply. This means clean milk. graded
labeled and pasieurized. Second
expert medical and nursing services
for expectant mothers. If every COM
/ munity would provide milk stations
| for It's babies and prenatal care for Its
mothers we would save in the u. S. A.
the lives of ten thousand mothers and
seventy five thousand babies annually.
There is no limit to what can be
done and this Is the time to do II.
With our figures revealing loss OF