The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-12

WASHINGTON, Jan. IA welfare
worker, making a survey in a western
county, stopped at a log shack. Four
lanky children popped out, followed by
the mother with a l2-months- old baby.
After automatically admiring the baby,
the visitor ventured to ask;
And what do you feed him2'
Well" said the mother, Il always
begin feeding my babies by giving them
taste OF everything on the table.
can Judge pretty well by the faces they
make whether 1t is good for them"
Further conversation showed that this
particular housewife, a foreigner, liked
highly seasoned foods, and had for
months tested the babys appetite on
meat, cheese and cabbage.
This mother was typical OF millions OF
American mothers. She had no idea
how to feed and care for a child. She
was snot a fit guardian for a future
American citizen.
The existence Of millions OF ignorant
mothers has led to the Introduction Of
bill In the house and senate, with ad-
illustrative backing, which has for its
purpose to create a federal system Of
educating mothers in the care of their
children.
Two million dollars would be appro-
priated by the federal government for
the first year and the state would put
up a similar sum, the amount being APP
portioned according to population. Later
the fund would be increased until 1t
became q $4,000, 900 appropriation from
the government, to be doubled by the
states.
This money would be used to pay
public health nurses to instruct mothers
in hygiene and care of infants, for con i
sultation centers, and for medical and
nursing care for mothers and children
at home or in hospitals.
The children's bureau Of the labor de-
partment is greatly interested in the
bill The bureau has kept so closely
in touch with records of infant mortal
tty and disease that 1t understands bet
ter than any other organization the need
for federal aid. OF is important coun-
tries, says the childrens bureau, 10
have lower maternal death rate than
the United States, while six have a
mothers and 100000 babies die every
year in this country. A large percent
age of these deaths are preVentable.
woman will use directions to cut
her children's clothes She will follow
recipe to make cake. But when 1t
comes to feeding, bathing and DOCTOR
ing a baby, she is inclined to fall back
on the customs of her ancestors and
trust to instinct. This is true, the chill
dren's bureau has found. not only In
poor, illiterate households, but in the
homes of the wealthy as well
Grandmother raised family by the
old-fashioned methods" says the young
mother, never stopping to consider that
out Of granmothers II children only
five grew up, and all that lived long
enough had every disease known to
childhood.
These mothers of the better class
usually think that public instruction or
the visits of public health nurse is a
form Of charity To get them to I'M
derstand that government aid in child
welfare is no more matter of charity
than the public school system is one OF
the problems confronting the chill
dren's bureau and health officials OF
states engaged in child welfare work
The states find that once the mothers
are interested and learn the difference
between science and the results of in
stlnctive care they are rapidly con
verified and are anxious to learn all they
can about the care Of their children.
The main trouble is that the service
rendered is slight in comparison with
the need. Even the proposed federal
and state appropriation will only begin
to pay for the doctors nurses, hospi-
tails and clinics necessary to save the
thousands of lives lost yearly through
ignorance and lack of care
Until the funds provided are large
enough. the special attention of the
government is necessarily turned toward
families in rural districts and others
who can not obtain adequate medical
attention from private physicians and
nurses.
We are more or less familiar with tho