The Washington times., 1922-10-12
IS
GREATEST. .
PROBLEM
Hoo Many Children on Small
:, Incomes Founa Cause Of
.., - Suffering.

The large family with the small
budget Is the greatest problem in
this country today, in the opinion
Of experts who today addressed
the Thirteenth Annual convention
OF the, American Child Hygiene
Association. ....a
Twelve years of effort by the
association has resulted in a lively
interest on the part of local
agencies in the care Of infants,
hut once they. reach one year Of
age they are set adrift and other
"prize babies" are given atten-
tion. =. ~.. .-...
. Enter School Unfit.
"These little ones have been the
prize infants" said DIR. A. G.. Schlink,
Of Cleveland. Ohio, cared for and
watched over by infant hygiene de-
partments from birth to one year and
then thrown upon the world.
six years later we see these lit
tie children enter the first grade,
showing probably late developed ric-
kets, spinal curvature. malnutrition.
discharging ears, cerbical adenitis,
enlarged and diseased tonsils, many
with teeth decayed and possibly a
hopelessly impaired heart or some
lung impairment"
= "Pre-school children" are being
given special consideration at the
Convention. More than 100000
children Of pre-school age die an
nually In thi scountry," DIR. Schlink
said.
The child in a large family. with
both parents living. but with the
budget hardly adequate for food and
lodging, Is the most neglected, not
only in the home but also in the pres
ent working scheme of our child wei
fare work." he added. This prob
lem of the poor child with environ
ment at it's lowest ebb is our greatest
problem, and must be met squarely
either by Governmental or private
agencies in all it's phases"
DR.. Farrand New Head.
The convention Of child experts
will be in session until Saturday
afternoon. The opening session to.
day at Continental Hall was pre-.
sided over by Miss Alice Blood. OF
Boston, after It was opened by Her
bert Hoover, the retiring president.
DR.. Livingston Farrand. president
Of Cornell University, will succeed
Mr.. Hoover.
A congratulatory message from
President Harding for the accom-.
plishments Of the association said
that regard for the Importance OF
child care is almost as general as
that personal love for children which
Is the tenderest sentiment OF civiliza-
ton"
"Your work is one which. in our
country, cannot lack for financial
support, unselfish personal aid or
high leadership" the President said.
Hoover Speaks Tonight.
Mr.. Hoover will deliver an address
tonight at Continental Hall. Other
speakers on the program will be Sir
Auckland Geddes, DR.. L. Emmett
Holt and Miss Elizabeth Fox.
Tho poor little rich girl. or boy
q not being overlooked by the con:
vention in deliberations on ways and
means Of reducing infant and
maternal mortality.
This class. speakers said today,
Sften suffers from malnutrition and
physical defects just as much as
their little neighbors who live in the
back alley. Education along the right
Lines, together with good medical
service, IL regarded as the remedy
for these conditions in well.to-do
families.
Miss Emma Dolfinger, of New
York. told the convention that mis-.
guided use by school teachers and
parents Of general information on
nutrition has wrecked many a health
program.
Educate Field Workers.
Nutrition specialists" Miss Dolf.
lnger said. have changed their at.
titude because Of the many ques-
tons concerns food problems asked
field workers In other lines. The
need for giving field workers &C.
curate elementary information, as
well AZ showing them the dangers
OF misinformation, is great" she
said.
Miss Flora Rose. Of Ithaca, N. Y,
said that in reality the nutrition
worker In teacher and must take
her place In a community as an ad-
ministrator as well as On instructor.
Groups Of mothers must be organ.
lied. she said. and then convinced
Of the importance Of the health edu.
cation program.
Administration of private child
hygiene associations and methods of
raising money for their support will
be discussed at tomorrow mornings
session OF the convention.
Nursing and social work will be
discussed by several registered
nurses. and infant mortality in the
FIRST month of life will be discussed
by DR.. lterrill e. Champion, of Bos-
ton.
Saturdays session will be featured
by an address by Miss Grace Abbott,
OF this city, on Administration Of
che Sheppard. .Towner Act"
Eanfiaf tJniona IN Meef-