The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1922-10-05
To Help the Mother and the Child.

ladies in this city to confer with Miss
A. Z. Carlson, who is working with
the state public health department fol-
the furtherance of the intents and
purposes of the Sheppard Towner Ma
ternity and Infancy bill, was eminent
ly successful as a starter in the com
munty of this specific work of making
the way easier and more certain for
expectant mothers and the babies Re-
sultant interest in this vastly import
ant matter has created a growing de-
mand for further information and
knowledge of its workings, and The
Herald is glad to assist--therefore
the following:
ssThe object of this work is not to
take the place of the physician, or to
relieve parents of their responsibility,
but to educate them for better parent
hood.
statistics gathered in Idaho dur
the year 1921 are positive evidence
that there is a necessity for a better
knowledge of the care of the mother
and her baby.
ssOut of a total of 1879 deaths in
our state during the year 1921, 1924
deaths conferred about the maternity
and infancy period This is too large
a proportion.
"The ideal for which we are striv-
ing is: That every mother in Idaho
shall have knowledge of the proper
care of herself during the course of
and a knowledge of how
to care for her baby properly.
"We believe that this education in
maternity and infancy will lower the
death rate of Idaho's mothers and
babies -
The Sheppard Towner Act for the
promotion of the welfare and hygiene
Of maternity and infancy was apprved
BY the president, November 23, 1921.
It authorized appropriations for the
existing year and for each of the five
subsequent years to carry out its pur-
pose, but the actual appropriations
must be made in separate acts. A def
,iency appropriation bill, not enacted
Until March 20, 1922, provided $780,
100 for the remaining portion of the
fiscal year ending June 80, and an APP
act for the year ending
Tune 80, 1923, makes available the full
u ,240, 900 authorized.
Anticipating the enactment of the
ill, six legislatures accepted its pro-
'isions prior to its final passage by
congress. One of these acceptances
vas good only in case the pending Fed
raj act was passed without changeI
md another was technically made
Iuate. Oregon accepted at special
ession. OF the eleven state legisla-
ures having regular sessions in 1922,
even have accepted the act, and four
louisiana, New York, Massachusetts,,
nd Rhode Island did not accept the !
'enefits. Hence to date a total of
welve states have accepted through |
legislative action. Of the thirty three
tates remaining, provisional accept
noes have been received from the
governors of thirty pending the
lext regular sessions of their legisla-
ures, Washington and Maine being
he two states which have not acted. |
the New York Legislature
elected the Federal measure, it ere
ted as result of the. women 8 cam
,aign for acceptance Division of |
and Infancy in the State
Board of Health and increased its pre-
7ious child hygiene appropriation of |
10000 to $4,000, so that the mothers
md babies of New York profited vi
he Sheppard Towner Act. In Mass
schusetts $4,000 was appropriated for
he balance of the year, and the gov
amor of Maine set aside $4,000 of his
contingency fund for maternity and
infant welfare work.
The act provides that the states ac-
,epting shall present their plans for
he use of the funds apportioned them
% fsBoard of Maternity and Infant
Hygiene = which shall consist of the
thief of the Children Bureau miss