The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-05-08


 be millions of flowers presented to mothers. In view of our manifest indifference to their lives, that seems to be shameful procedure" In these words, pr Howard w. flag gard of Yale University, stigmatized public indifference as responsible for the death rate among mothers in child birth being higher in the United States than in any other civ- 1lized nation. He stated that this not need to be the case; that 10000 of the 16,00O women who die each year could be saved by adequate maternity care, and urged the pub- lie to devote Mothers Day to secur- ing better facilities for women in the greatest crisis of their lives.
 pr Haggard's speech marked the opening of a nationwide campaign for new observance of Mothers day. It was broadcast over the Columbia Broadcasting system.
 "Gifts of flowers are a sentiment al and hyocritical gesture" said Dr Haggard. The fortunate ones-the survivors-get a flower. But what are the sons and daughters, the presenters of the flowers who thus cf1eaply achieve a glow of se1f-satis- faction, doing to prevent, the un- necessary deaths of 10000 mothers this year? They can be saved, but not by holding out to them the promise of a potted plant. How can these millions of mothers receive the flowers when they think of the other and younger mothers-the 10000 who will die needlessly this year?
 The lowest maternity death rate in the woWd. Dr Haggard explained, has been achieved in one small sec ton of the United States, where are quate maternity care has been made available to 5000 mothers. The ex- pertinent. which was conducted by the Maternity Center association in New York city, proved, he said, that the record of America could be brought as low as that of any coun- try in the world. Selecting a strip of territory in the city of New York, little more than quarter of mile wide and three miles long, lying along the East river, the Maternity Center association, an organization of women aided by a medical ad- visory board and supported by vol untary contributions set out to di- minish the hazards of motherhood.
 This district contains many crowded tenements," said Dr flag gard. "Yet the death-rate was re- duced two-thirds the general rate. This means that two of every three women who die in maternity in this country can be saved. It can be done. for it is being done. It will be done for the whole country when the women of the United States de- mand adequate maternity care. pr Haggard said that similar experi- ments are being carried on in other cities and in the mountains of Ken- lucky.
 "Our present lack of interest in the needs of the child bearing mother is survival of a very an- cient attitude. Enlightment has to q great extent done away with some Sf the beliefs that stood in the way, but indifference is now covered over with the sophistry that responsibility rests with the enervating influence of modern civilization and urbaniza- ti"n. The opponents of this belief are of the opinion that the women of aboriginal peoples living in their native tribes have no difficulties at childbirth survive; those who have difficulties die, and there are many such. We know of the survivors only, for savages keep no statistics. No; the modern woman is not de- cadent. Even in our country, bad as are the conditions, she is better off than in the native state.''
 Dr Haggard described the method pursued in caring for mothers in the section of New York which he had mentioned. The Maternity Center association, during eight years offered women class instruction in motherhood. Expectant mothers were told how to care for them selves and prepare for the baby. These mothers were given regular medical and nursing supervision. When the baby arrived a nurse at tended and assisted the doctor in every way possible to aid in the comfort and safety of the mother. She took on her shoulders the re- responsibilities of the household and the care of the older children, thus bringing peace of mind to the mother. The nursing supervision continued until the child was six weeks old.
 We as country would rise to war" said Dr Haggard, If one American mother were deliberately shot by an alien government Yet at the same time. such is our nature, we stand by unconcerned while 10,- 900 mothers die needlessly. The means exist to prevent these deaths, but the fact that they continue year in and year out means that we are recklessly indifferent to their wants the figures prove it.
 Moreover, the deaths are only part of the tragedy. Think of the disorganized, disrupted homes, a hazardous future for the born babies, an uncertain one for the old CT children; the orphanage, the street, crime, the reform school, the prison.
 ! "We have in the United States more telephones, more automobiles, and more bathrooms than all the rest of the world. We have the tall est buildings. the most paved roads, and the most expensive system of elementary education. We lead the world in many ways and to our disgrace we lead it in mortality of mothers in childbirth. We have held this position now for some 20 years. While we have accepted and popu- larized the interesting toys of science
 HEP SERVICE IN 1883