South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-16
Y. n. A. MEMBERSHIP
HEARS ADDRESS BY
MISS EDNAL. FOLEY
Annual Reports of Association
Read at Meeting at Home
of Mrs. Roche.


Members and guests of the Visit
ing Nurse association enjoyed one
Of the most delightful and compre-
hensive programs ever presented on
the occasion Of the annual business
meeting and formal tea Tuesday
afternoon at the home Of Mrs. Ed
mund Roche, 537 W. Colfax av.,
when Miss Edna L. Foley of Chi
cage. president OF the National
Board OF Public Health nursing, adj
dressed the $50 guests present.
During the brief business session
detailed reports were read delineat-
ing graphically the splendid accom-
plishments Of tht various depart
ments Of endeavOr sponsored by the
association from Feb. l. 1920. TO
Feb. l. 1921. Mrs. Roberta Cole,
secretary of the organization out
lined the duties of the six nurses.
the routine business and its disposal
and the general policies Of the asso-
citation during the past year Mrs.
Otto Bastian, treasurer, reported the
financial status Of the institution
and calculated the expenditures made
and donations received.
Cites Specific Cases.
Interesting and instructive was
the report Of Miss Mary Horn, SUI
perintendent in charge Of the staff.
for it was replete with human in
terest incidents. In illustration or
the work the nurses meet Miss Horn
cited specific cases encountered by
herself and her staff She paid a
glowing tribute TO her assistants
praising their efficiency. their BRAY
cry. and constant devGs ion.
: Miss FOley's address though brief
carried message Of keenest i'm
port concerning itself chiefly with
that phase Of public nursing devot-
ed to prenatal and post natal care
of mothers and infants in this coun-
try.
1T is a bit appalling" said Miss
Foley, that the United States, stand
| ing first among the nations Of the
world in civilization, suffers annu-
ally a higher death rate through
child birth than any other country
of the same civilized attainments
In a great many OF the foreign coun-
/ LI4tSs par III uldA III II oAANN wv =
prevail legislation for the protection
of the young mother and the infant
lowering TO a minimum the dangers
Of the pre- natal and post natal pc
riod for mother and child. In GER
tain sections in France there are
laws which provide for the strictest
care of the infant during the first
liz months Of its life. thus increas-
ing its chances Of reaching matur-
ity."
Death Rate Here Low.
In proof that parental education
and treatment are unqualifyingly
successful. Miss Foley cites statistics
which carry their own evidence.
Where no pre- natal care is admin
istered." she said. 80 babies out Of
every loo are still born and there is
one maternal death 20 every 1856
coninements. Forty-five babies out
of 100 die, before reaching two
months In contrast where pre-
natal care is attendant only u out
Of 100 births result in infant death.
In South Bend you are unusually
fortunate in having a very low death
rate in child birth. Ninety-five out
Of every 100 babies born in your
city live"
In closing Miss Foley advised that
the work OF educating young moth
ers and prospective mothers be car
ried on not only among the needy
and the ignorant but among all
classes. "for they all need instruc-
ton" she said. She counciled the
association members that in their
enthusiasm they not attempt too far
reaching a program for fear that
they fail 10 give the greatest meas
ure OF success in spreading their
ministrations.
A musical program interpreted
the reports and was rendered by
Mrs Walter z. Bryan and Mrs Lu-
cile Varier, vOcalists. accompanied
by Mrs. James CoveR. Miss Butler
Of st. Mary's academy entertained
with a number OF delightful read
ings. Tea was served at the close OF
the afternoon.