The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-02-01
SAVING THE BABIES


That more babies survived the
erils of infancy in 1928, in proper
ton to the number born during the
year in the counties of Maryland,
than at any time since such records
have been kept by the Bureau OF
Vital Statistics of the State Depart
mhnt Of Health. is shown by a re-
port prepared by that Bureau.
Commenting on the figures, DIT
J. H. M. Knox, Jr., Chief OF the
state Bureau Of Child hygiene,
said: There were 1902 births re-
corded in the counties in 1928, OF
which 12,711 were white and 1901
,olored, with 1926 infant Deaths
sos white and 430 colored. This
yives us an infant death rate of II.
BY that we mean the ratio OF deaths
under one year to every thousand
live births.
when we say that we have g.,
ate Of n, we mean that out Of.
very 1000 births there were ~
ieaths Of babies under year old,
saving 923 Survivors out OF each.
thousand born during the year. In
927, out of every thousand born
here were 81 deaths, leaving Sl9
urvivors, and in 1926 there were
2 deaths out of every thousand
,aving 908 survivors. In each in
ance, there are the rates for white
nd colored combined. The rate
5r the white babies separately, is
luch less than that for the ,colored
n abies. In 1928, the rates IN the
ounties were SO out of each thous-
, ad live births for the white babies
nd over twice, that, 1870, for the
:olored.
sOne of the principal reasons for
eeping the records OF births and
aaths is because they enable US to
ZEE what and where our gains and
osses are each GEAR, and because
hey give us definite facts upon
fhich to base our plans for conserv-i
lg healtLss and preventing disease.
i we,tznalyze the records Of sickness
nd death among the children under
me year old in the counties last
ear, we find that the total deaths
IN be traced to few main causes.
he largest number out of the total
+ 1926, were due to prematurity,
o injuries at birth, or to an inherent
weakness. There were 585 in this
group. The respiratory diseases, in
iluding pneumonia, bronchitis, in
iuenza. and whooping cough. carri-
d on 257; the digestive diseases,
mainly diarrheal, were responsible
Or 246; and the remaining 14S were
Aused by infections and other dis
,ases not included in those men
i6ned above. OF the total, over
alf, s1s, died before they were a
month old.
i s.It is the study Of this last group,
he deaths of these babies who lived
5nly few day or two or three
weeks, thatsill lOes US where special
sffoTfs in saving infant me must be
concentrated. Our experienced, in
Maryland coincide with those
|. throughout the country. Wherever
,arefully planned work has been
lone, there has been marked re-
iuction in the deaths from the d.
gestive diseases, some little improve
ment in the deaths from the respira-
tory diseases, but no decrease In the
deaths due to weakness, premature
" and similar causes. 1t is obvious
hat very little can be done in cut
ting down the deaths in this group
unless the work is started months
before the baby's arrival, by giving
The mother-to-be the very best pos
sible care. The great advantage OF
that plan Is that two lives are safe
guarded, the life Of the mother as
well as that Of the baby.