The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-08-24

correct through proper reporting
of births, the statistics compiled are
Of little value, and there are no ac-
curate records to be used as a basis
for prevention work.
A very careful grading and inspec-
ton of children's homes and matern-
ity hospitals has been made, and viii
continue to be made under a state law
which provides that such inspection
shall be made by the Division of
Child Hygiene Of the State Board of
Health. Licenses ard only issued
when certain minimum requirements
are met. The work in the past has
been hampered by lack of funds. It
should now proceed on a more ade-l
quate basis.
The policy of providing-a one per-
cent solution of silver nitrate to the
nidwives and physicians of the state
will be continued. This is a solution
for the prevention of blindness due
to gonorrhea and other bacteria
sometimes present at birth.
1t is planned 10 secure a prominent
baby specialist to address the various
county societies, so that the medical
profession may be advised of the lat
est word in the feeding of infants
and infant care in general.
Many of these activities have been
carried on by the Division of Child
Hygiene since its creation. With the
increased money at its disposal, these
activities viii be enlarged and in
tensifed.
Arrangements have already been
made, in part, to work closely in CO.
operation with local municipal public
health associations and with the State
Tuberculosis Association in so far as
their work applies to infant hygiene.
The Sheppard-Towner Act pro-
vides certain purposes for which the
federal money may not be used. It
may not be applied to the purchase,
erection, or repair of buildings or
equipment, nor for the purchase or
rental of buildings or land nor for the
payment of any maternity or infancy
pensions. This clause is to safeguard
the central purpose of the Act, which
is the instruction of the expectant
mother and mother of infants, and
the nurse as to the standard care of
mother and child.
This department for the study and
care of mothers and infants is a step
an a forward-looking movement. It
shows that the government is begin
ming to be as interested in the saving
and care of mothers and babies as it
has long been in the care of live
stock In a survey of the livestock
situation J. c. Mohler, secretary of
the State Board of Agriculture, show
ed that in the ten years from 1912 to
1922 the loss in livestock has been
reduced Y 90 by the program Of the
state departments of agriculture. The
number of deaths of livestock was re-
duced from sgt, 500 in 1912 to 144,
600 in 1921.
During the same period, 1912 to
1921, it is estimated that four and
one-half years have been added DO
the human life, by improved santa
ton, passing of the common drinking
cup, use of vaccine and serums and
adoption of new methods of medical
and surgical science.
eff in a ten year period we can
lengthen the average human life -four
and one-haf years, with the small
means and facilities we have had"
said Dr. Crumbine, ''what may we not
expect to accomplish in the next ten
years if our legislature Will give US
the means to carry on our work as it
should be carried on? Certainly we
will be able to add more than four
and one-half years to the average
human life-and what can be of
more value to this state than the
lives of its citizens?"
Public Health Officials and large
number of specialists interested in
maternal and child hygiene are on re-
cord approving the Act, and are as
sisting in carrying out its provisions.
The State and Provincial Health Of
ficers' Association not only endorsed
! the Sheppard-TOwner Act at two an
nual sessions prior to its becoming a
+ law, but reafirmed its position by
the following, resolution passed in
May 1922: eve approve the action
of the Board of Maternity and In
fancy Hygiene and the ChiIdren's
Bureau of the Department of Labor
in their practical Interpretation and
administration of the Sheppard
Towner Act; and We pledge the sew
eraI state health departments to such