The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-02-05
Why Babies Die.
Faulty Teaching and Sins Of Parents
to Blame.

| To THE NEW YORK HERALD: In an
| article in your edition of January 81
surprise is expressed that the birth rate
is decreasing and the yearly slaughter
of babies is increasing. The only mat
ter for surprise is the fact that such a
condition should come under the head
of news. For years the public has had
access to statistics showing that the
rate OF infant mortality is far in excess
of what 1t might be. The public also
has been fed with statistics showing
that the general rate of mortality In the
last twenty-five years has decreased all
the way from 20 to 80 per cent. This,
however, Is misleading. The decrease Is
due almost who'll to the elimination of
communicable diseases. The class of all
ments commonly known as degenera-
tive diseases has Increased by leaps
and bounds. In the case OF heart and
kidney ailments the increase in two
decades is not far from 100 per cent.
These are ailments that are wholly
due in early life to improper living and
imperfect nutrition. A man nowadays
loses his teeth at twenty. his hair at
thirty, his digestion at forty, at fifty
his kidneys fail after that he goes to
the scrap heap. and the graveyard gets
him at sixty. The reflex is seen In the
enormous mortality OF babies. who come
into the world with nothing to build
upon and who leave 1t because of the
sins Of their parents.
The estimate of 100000 preventable
infant deaths year In the United
States is too conservative. In a recent
epidemic year the total was nearly
twice as great. The year 1917 was
fairly free from epidemics. In Brook
line. Mass. during that year the death
rate of babies was ALP per 1000; in
Wilmington, n. c.. It was 1914 per
1000. Possibly congested colored pop
uation might be offered in explanation
of the death rate at Wilmington. But
this would not apply to Nashville. Tenn.
where the infant death rate was 1914
per 1000; nor to Norristown. Pa, where
II was 1917.
Our system OF education has taken
about everything into its curriculum ex-
cept the knowledge necessary to pre-
serve the human body. Is there a reason
why baby slaughter-no other word fits
the case-should be more than four
times as great in one community as In
another? The statistics of communities
of normal people whose surroundings
are wholesome show that the rate OF
infant mortality need not be materially
greater than four times the general
death rate. AS a matter of fact In cities
1t is rarely less than eight times. and
in many cities It exceeds sixteen times
the general rate.
Tho conditions, moral and immoral.
which result In excessive baby slaughter
and also of the lowering birth rate are
known to every intelligent man and
woman in the country. They need not
DO rehearsed. Perhaps coming gen.
GRAFTON may realize that perpetuation
OF the race is the first law of life. This
generation knows and ignores IL.
A race of weaklings that. generation
after generation, is the offspring OF bot
tie fed babies will be OF but little use
10 the world. The Congress could not
undertake better and a more necessary
task than investigation of the causes OF
baby slaughter---nor one that is more
hopeless OF results.
JACQUES w. REpwAy. Il. n. G. S.
MOUNT VERNON. February 4.