The broad ax., 1923-12-15
u. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
cHILDREN'S BUREAU
WASHINGTON

Forty states are now cooperating
with the Federal government, under
the terms OF the Sheppard-TowneI
maternity and infancy act, to reduce
the death rate among mothers and ba-
bies throughout the United States.
The first official report of activitie.
under this Act, through which Con.
gress is permitted to appropriate ST.
$4,000 annually for the welfare o.
maternity and infancy, is made public
today as part Of the annual report o.
Grace Abbott, Chief of the Children.
Bureau Of the Department Of Labor
Miss Abbott is also chairman of The
Federal Board Of Maternity and In.
FAINT Hygiene. The National admins
tration Of the maternity and infancy
act is lodged in the Children's Bureau
The only states which have not &C
cepted the provisions Of the Maternity
and Infancy Act are: Vermont, Mass
achusetts. Rhode Island, Maine, where
the legislature passed an acceptance
act which was vetoed by the governor
Louisiana and Illinois, where the aci
received q substantial majority in the
senate but failed Of passage in the
house; Kansas, where the act passed
the senate unanimously, but did moi
come to a vote in the house; and Con-
necticut, where the 1928 legislature in
structed the health department not to
accept the funds available under the
act.
Extension of the Act to benefit the
mothers and babies Of Alaska, Hawaii,
Porto Rico and the Philippines is rec
commended by Miss Abbott's report.
Appalling infant death rates in the
island possessions Of the United States
make indifference on the part Of the
United States impossible Miss Alb
bolt states. Reports Of the governors
Of Porto Rico and Hawaii show that
in Porto Rico 1s3 babies, and in Ha-
waii l20 babies, die during the first
year Of life. out Of every 1000 born
alive. In the Philippine Islands the
last census showed the rate to Be 35S.
In contrast to these high rates is the
rate Of 70 for the birth registration
area Of the United States.
The United States has "a national
obligation to render (these commu-
nities) at least the same assistance be-
ing given the States" Miss Abbott
points out.
Important investigations in child
hygiene, child labor, and the care Of
dependent and delinquent children
have been made by the Chiidren's Blu
reau during the last year. The results
Of some Of these investigations are
summarized in Miss Abbott's report
During the year the chiidren's Blu
reau co-operated with the Community
Health Service Of Boston in the DEM
onstration Of habit-clinic for pre-
school children. Doctor d. A. Thorn
Of the Boston Psychopathic Hospital
has been in charge Of the clinic, and
has prepared an analysis Of the results
81 the experiment, which viii be pub
lished by the Children's Bureau.
"A survey Of nutrition work being
done for the children Of preschool age
ia nine eastern and mid-western cities
and three rural communities has beer
made. The report Of this study ].
being prepared.
An intensive study Of the growth d
young children, with special reference
70 ricketts,, to the influence Of the chi
dren's diets, Of the diets Of nursing
mothers, and Of housing and sunlight
has been made ia the District Of Col
unnbia, with the cooperation Of The
Child Welfare Society Of the District
With the object Of discovering meth.
DDS Of preventing ricketts,. . study Il
New Haven in cooperation with tn
medical school Of Yale University i
under consideration.