Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-07-16
RSs
SAVING BABIES

In view of the efforts of the Board of Health to establsh
a milk station in this city, a move that is most commendaDie
and one that should receive the hearty co-operauon OF every
citizen, the facts and figures furnished by the New YORK NILE
Committee which have just been received are Interesting anu
instructive. With a complete tabulation of infantlie mortahty
compared with tbe total deaths in 167 cities of the country 1t
is found that Perth Amboy ranks high both IN total dea'ns anu
in the percentage of infantiIe deaths. Nothing could more con
clusively show the need Of careful health SUPERVISION u III
city and especially care for the infants.
The statistics are based on the last federal census oil
1910, which, of course, are decidedly %antiquated by TINS ume.
That census gives Perth Amboy a population o. oS'lSi' n"'
as the figures for every other city are based on the same cen
sus the proportions are as fair as they can be made, although IL
Is true that some cities have grown a great deal faster than
others and there is reason to believe that Perrin AmDoy ID peen
among those that have grown the fastest.
Consideration is also given the fact that the year 1913
was unusual in many particulars But In spite OF te Ina 40
the baby death rate of the country increased seven points, ee
New York Milk Committee believes this figure TO be remark
ably low when all the circumstances are considered--War un-
rest. high cost of food and the influenza epidemic.
Perth Amboy was hit particularly hard by the influenza
epidemic, for just as it reached this city the explosion occurred
at Morgan, greatly reducing the vitality of the people many OF
whom suffered from exposure and shock, SO that they could
not successfully Withstand the disease.
Blu. the figures still show, after all is considered, that TINS
city is far too high in the matter of infantile deaths. we 90
not compare well with cities of about equal size. IL IS graft
fving to know, therefore, that the Board of Health, under the
capable leadership Of Charles 1. Silk, is taking steps TO remedy
the situation. What is needed most at the present time, ap-
parently, is the cooperation of those who know best now 10
cooperate and the support of the citizens in general III get
ting the work that the health board has in view thoroughly es-
tablished.
sHThere are two main public health activities that count
most in preventing unnecessary loss of infant and maternal
life,t' saws the New York Milk Committee in its statement &C
companying its report. First, a safe milk supply. rms
means clean milk, graded, labeled and pasteurized. Second,
expert medical and nursing services for expectant mothers.
If EVERY COMMUNITY WOULD PROVIDE MILK STATIONS
FOR IRIS BABIES AND PRENATAL CARE FOR ITS MOTH
ERS WE WOULD NETN-F u 8. a. THE LIVES OF TEN
THOUSAND MOTHERS AND SEvENTY-FivE THOUSAND
BABIES ANNUALLY"
Surely, for a ~pacemaking city we can at least do our Ut
raac4 ~ q fnal ly OF the mace in the matter OF saving the DaDleS.
Few cities are blessed with more of them than Perth Amboy
and because they make up such an important part of our pop
ulation is all the more reason why they should be given the
utmost care and attention.
The New York Milk Committee finds that the baby crop
in America for the present year promises to be the largest IN
the history of the country. Perth Amboy is without a doubt
doing her share in bringing about the increase. All the more
reason. then, why the Board of Health should have the active
co-operation of everyone in its work to conserve infant lie
and also in the work the public health nurses are doing IN as
sisting and instructing mothers and expectant mothers.
The child welfare board of the State Board of Health has
q station in this city for work of this character, but for some
reason or other there is a lack Of cooperation between 1T and
The local Board of Health. Repeated efforts of Health Officer
Thompson to get the state authorities to confer with the local
authorities in the mattSr so that there will be no conhiction
in the work has been without avail, the local health officer
ought to be a harmony of action for only in that way can the
greatest good for the community be accomplished.