Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-23
{ & ] rsn.REN HAVE
RICH HERITAGE. !
STATES EXPERT
But Says Much Still Can B,
Done to Guard Health of
Infants.
BY ADA e. sCHWEITZER. NJ. D.,
Director of Infant and Child Hygiene I
the State Board of Health.

Director of Infant and Child Hygiene d
| the State Board of Health.
| {Note-This is an extract from tall
made by DR.. Schweitzer at the Stat
| Health Exposition.) /
From the standpoint Of his health
| the Indiana child has a rich heritage.
The old fashioned schoolhouse ha.
| given place to the modern sanitari
school building; the lack of attention Il
general health is being superseded by
, more scientific knowledge of physio!og;
and by adequate health inspection.
In the last two or three years thi
incubation of health habits as a par
of school routine has begun a practic,
which will greatly decrease the preya
.lence of infectious diseases and vii
bring the child to maturity In healtl
and vigor.
Prior to school age, greatly increased
attention is being given to the nutrition
and development of the child, and, still
earlier, to correct care of both mothei
and child during the prenatal periot
and the period of lactation.
THE child Of today inherits all til,
riches that science, art and experience
of past generations have to offer con
corning his health and growth.
a study Of the laws Of heredity emf
phasizes the need of careful selection II
marriage The effect on the childI
health of the prenatal condition of TIL
mother emphasizes the necessity for ad9
quate prenat i care.
1.-The prenatal influences most desiE
able are good health Of both parents
freedom from overwork, excitement AMI
o-+ So hn 1nfh ar
lives of both mothers and babies mig1
be saved by q physicians scientific can
and supervision during the prenatal
natal and postnatal periods. "
THE infant needs nourishment, sleepy
correct elimination, comfortable home,
bed and clothing, and freedom from over
handling.
"He needs to establish regular habits
from his earliest infancy. Many dis
turbances of nutrition and of nervous
stability are due to failure to inculcate
correct habits in early infancy.
THE baby as he grows older needs
gradual change from breast milk to food
adapted to his powers of assimilation and
to his period of growth. Cows milk
modified at first is important. Clean
milk, free from infectious organisms,
properly cared for and correctly modi-
fed IS essential Stimulants to growth
found in fruit and vegetable juices and
in certain oils are important Fresh air
and sunshine promote assimilation. Sleep,
rest and exercise and work should be
balanced.
Guarding the child from infections has
in the past been too frequently limited
to quarantine Of house or premises. lock
ing the door after the horse is stolen.
When we realize that the so-called
common cold is a most prolific source of
infectious disease, more attention will be
given to guarding the child against this
enemy. So many OF the acute infectious
diseases start in the guiSe Of q common
cold. that could we prevent these colds
We should eliminate many of them.
We have outliyed the notion that chill
dren must be exposed to infectious dis
ease that they may get it and have II
over with" but we still fail far short
in protecting children from these diseases.
There need be in Indiana no deaths from
typhoid. from diptheria or from smallpox
as science knows definitely how to pre-
vent these diseases. Yet Indiana in 1920
lost 2S2 persons from typhoid. Is from
smallpox aud 35S from diphtheria. total
of coo deaths that might easily have been
prevented. Many persons become infee
ted with tuberculosis in childhood be-
cause of contacts with infected persons
or because Of eating infected food. Herds
Of cattle might he tested and milk may
be pasteurized to prevent bovine type OF
tuberculosis infectious in childhood.
Persons who have cases of tuberculosis
may be kept from Injecting others. vet
Indiana lost in 1920, S,051 persons. adults
and children, from tuberculosis. Chill
dren need clean homes, freedom from
nagging and from too close supervision.
They need to cultivate a high respect
for the experience of their elders and
for law and authority that they may grow
to be useful, we'll balanced citizens"