Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1920-02-03
LAUNCH CAMPAIGN
FOR BETTER BABIES
IN Ia SALE COUNTY
MENT TO LOWER MORTALITY
RhTE-ADvlSOR ISSUES DUlLE-
TIN TO STIMULATE INTEREST
IN CAMPAIGN.

Miss Helen Glotlcltcr, the Count
Home Advisor, is the author OF Wy
urgent appeal Tor infant welfare
which was published in the last issue
of the Home Bulletin, the monthly
magazine gotten out by the members
al the La Sale Coulty Home Bureau
The article tells of the many deaths
among the babes Of the country. and
urges the need for intelligent care
and raising by the mothers for the in-
turo generation.
The editorial Is published in fun
below;
DO you klow that the United
States ranks eleventh in infant NOR
taltv? That ten other countries have
n lower rate OF infant mortality than
we have? United States loses one il
every ten babies born in this country
before they are one year old. Boes il
not astonsh you that your so-called
progressive America that so many
babies should die. most OF them need
lcssly?
"Why is t." you ask.
The cause for such deaths mag be
grouped urder very few headings.
First: b. far the greatest class
of the high infant deaths are deaths
due to natal and parental causes, The
lack of care of the mother during
pregnancy. ignorance and superstition,
ard improper care and nursing during
confinement caused the death OF ES,-
80 babies in 1916, besides causing tn
death of more than 5000 mothers
second: Castro intestinal diScas-
es. due to digestive troubles and
wrong feeding, killed 39.327 babies In
1916. Most of these babies died dur
ing the summer months.
Third Diseases of the respiratory
tract caused the deaths of 2IIlG ba-
bies in 1916 Poor ventilation and
foul air, besides careIessness il dress
ing, etc, make babies much more sus-
ceptible to colds than grownups,
epidemic diseases and other
causes have been responsible for 3d.
los other deaths
"The women of the Home Bureau,
realizing that children are the most
valuable possessions. have planned a
campaign for 1920 to lower the death
rate of children in La Sale County,
THE preventive measures begin not
at birth, but during the time before
birth. so the mother comes in for her
share of attentions in the campaign.
"Education OF mothers in feeding
and general hygienic care of infants
will help in lowering the death rate
especially in summer. Maternal feed
ing will be urged. AS children 50 fed
are much healthier than babies arti-
ficially nourished,
General instructions in feeding,
clothing and care of babies will bo
given by competent women. in order
to better the conditions surrounding
the baby during its first year of life.
Special help will be given in special
cases.
Give me intelligent motherhood and
good parental conditions and | have
no doubt of the future of this or any
other nation. john Burns,
The greatest honor which may come
to a woman is motherhood With
motherhood comes new set of re-
sponsibiitics which are greater ard
more vital than any before
yet how many mothers have been
educated for motherhood? Not many.
it is sure. The old idea, a superst-
ton almost. that with motherhood
comes all the knowledge necessary to
proper rearing Of children is err0n
eOuS. -
The mother instinct, with love aHd
intelligence, may come, it Is true, but
the majority of women have little or
no instruction. other than that of Old
or mothers who themselves made
many mistakes through lack OF train
ing. Motherhood is a profession q
profession on which rests the health
and happiness OF future men and Wo-
men. II requires study and training
to be an intelligent mother, as does
to become Il dentist or an engineer"
The Daughters of Illinois Chapter