Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-04-30
URGES CLINICS
FOR EXPECTANT
MOTHERS HERE
DR.. Sippy Suggests Means of
Making Federal Money
Go FartheSt.

While the fatalities resulting from
such diseases as typhoid fever and
diphtheria have become virtually
negligible through the work of medical
science. there is one form of NOR
tally that has shown no decrease and
tally, DIR. John ]. Sippy. state
Y. M. G. A. before the League of
Women voters Saturday afternoon.
He explained the purpose of the
Sheppard Towner bill for the promo
ton of maternal and child welfare.
In three years there were in Mon
tana 26O deaths in which childbirth or
causes relating to it were the cause,
DIR. Sippy said. "In but IA cases had
there been prenatal care or instruc-
leaving. a total of 246 who forfeited
their lives because Of neglect. No
amount of obstetrical knowledge could
have prevented these fatalities. The
deduction is very clear. 1t is abso-
lutely evident that mothers must be
given care previous to confinement, il
this mortality is to be decreased" he
said.
Possible to Reduce Mortality
That it is possible to reduce infant
and maternal mortality was proved by
a test in New York in which observa-
ton was made of three groups of
said, stating that in the group where
no prenatal instruction or care was
given. the mortality was greater than
in the second group where visiting
nurses had given instruction, and that
in this group it was greater than in a
third group where the mothers had
had the care and advice of experts
during the prenatal period.
The big problem in carrying out
the provisions of the Sheppard
Towner act, which provides for Mon
tana a sum of $4,000 to be spent to
provide instruction for expectant
mothers and training in caring for
their infants after their birth, lies In
getting this information to these
women. DR.. Sippy said. He stressed
the necessity of cooperation on the
part Of all who are DESTROYS Of see
ing the bill function effectively.
Clinics Suggested
The sum appropriated is not great
enough to provide actual hospital care
for mothers who are not able to af-
ford it for themselves. Neither can
IT be expended on physicians fees for
advice given. Ways and means for
IIdhluS IL go IN lar us possible DlnSL
be found. DR.. Sippy pointed out. and
suggested that clinics will probably be
held at stated periods in order to pro-
vide prenatal instruction and treat
ment. Even in this way it will not
be possible to reach all of these
women and the work must go further.
Correspondence will have TO be had
with women who cannot come to the
clinics, he said. An effort to enlist
the support of the women's clubs of
the state and of other organizations
and individuals who will be willing to
cooperate in the work, will be made
DR.. Sippy said.
City Federation To Help
DR.. G.. A. Fuson, city and county
physician. emphasized the necessity
for the Sheppard Towner program and
assured DR.. Sippy of the support of
his department in making it a success.
The City Federation of Women's
Organizations will be in charge Of in
augurating the Sheppard Towner work
in Great Falls and will work with DIR.
Sippy in outlining a course of action
to be followed in putting it into opera
ton.
Directed by Miss Lena NJ. Spoor.
the girls chorus of the public schools
sang a number Of selections.