The log cabin Democrat., 1921-07-25
SAVING THE BABIES-A COMMUNITY PROBLEM.
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t1n Cnarge or Cnlld welfare SpeClal)
 How the mayor of a small town in England took seriously his responsi- bility for saving the babies, is told in recent number of the magazine called "Mother and Child" published by the American Child Hygiene As sociation.
 The mayor had learned from sta tistical records that there was large number of deaths of children under five years and particularly of babies under one year. Upon inves tigating the causes of these deaths he found that they were, for the most part, preventable. The condition seemed to him "pitiable and pathetic and he resolved that something should be done to remedy it.
 He sought the cooperation of the town health officer and after con- ference with him decided that the most important part of the work was to secure an early registration of births so as to give some direct and immediate help and encouragement to the mothers. But the law allowed 42 days after birth for registration and it was often during those first few days that the question of baby's life or death was decided. Several plans were tried to encour- age birth registration; a birthday present was promised babies whose parents gave the early notice of birth and a small fee was offered either the doctor or layman who might be the first informant. The registration was followed up by the immediate visit of a woman doctor
 The scheme worked fairly well but it was found that the careless and in- different mothers who were most in need of help were not being reached. The mayor decided that these poor babies were also the concern of the community. Considering that 2 prompt registration of births was necessary he decided that it should be made a law. Living in England he was confronted with the necessity of having a law passed by both houses of parliament and signed by the king just to enforce registration in his town. However, he attacked the problem with courage and conviction and largely by force of his own en- thusiasm managed to get it through as part of bill about other miscel- laneous measures. And in the course nf e proved entirel y successful in it's en- forcement, was made national law and applied to the whole of Great Britain and Ireland.
 The same sort of experiment in saving babies lives was tried out in a small town in France. There was no doctor within 20 miles of the town--a public health nurse was un' known. There was neither money nor machinery with which to organ .ize community effort. But in Vil- Hers le- Due the mayor called the townspeople together to discuss ways and means of preventing the un- necessary loss of their youngest cit izens. Together they worked out a life saving system which practically controlled their infant mortality. At the end of ten years campaign it was found that not one mother had died in confinement, not one baby un- der two years of age had died and there has been but one still birth.
 In American towns a similar sys- tenn may be worked out by a mayor with the vision and leadership such as have been shown by the mayor of Conway. He would not have to se- cure the passage of the federal law. If legal enforcement should be neces- sary an ordinance could be passed such as that which has been so ef- fective in prosecuting the local cam paign against malaria. Neither would the services of woman physician he required. A well trained public health nurse could obtain from the doctors notice of births and instructed by the doctors would visit the homes where baby had been born and give the mothers the most practical pos sible help and instruction.
 There are, then but three things necessary to make Conway towr eminently "safe for babies"
 l. A public spiriter citizen, pre- ferably the mayor, who would mak it to see that health measures fo babies are started and carried out.
 2. Progressive doctors.
 8. A public health nurse to do tn teaching and demonstration work.