Evening star., 1951-09-26
u S. Infant Death Rate
Still Is Major Problem
Five Times as Many Die Yearly
As Soldiers Killed in Action
By Thomos R. Henry

The infant death rate still Is q major
problem in the United States despite an
enormous reduction In the past two dec
ades. Still It's more dangerous to be an
infant than soldier.
In 1943 five times as many babies died
in the 6rst year of life as there were
servicemen killed in action. The ma
tional rate In that year was about 40
infant deaths per 1000 live births. but
In five States more than 100 Of every
1000 non-white babies died.
This is stressed in report on the
present status Of maternal nutrition and
child health just issued by the National
Research Council here.
Mortality in the first month of life
continues to be an unsolved problem,
says the report. A major cause is pre-
maturity and, according to the Research
Council report, between three and eleven
per cent of all live-born infants are pre-
mature. Many such babies die in few
days as a result Of birth injuries. Hem
orrhage Is one of the important conse-
quences, one authority being cited to the
effect that cerebral hemorrhage Is re-
sponsible for more than half the fatal.
ties among premature infants.
Prenatal Supervision Vital.
Much depends, it is stressed, on the
nutrition of the mother, although
science has much to learn on this sub
ject, the report stresses.
For new life to be started WELL" it
says, "it is evident that the maternal
body must be rebuilt after each preg-
nancy and lactation period Animal
studies show that in early pregnancy
nutritlonal deficiencies in the mother
result in defective offspring. The condi-
tions found in human mothers who bear
malformed infants are so similar to
those found in animals with deficiencies
early in CESSATION that the same origins
seem highly probable. For this reason
prenatal supervision should start very
early in, preferably before, pregnancy.
''It is important to realize that the
mother and foetus form unity and in
research they must be considered to-
gether. The whole mother and child
unit may be affected in various ways
for example, the structure or function
of one organ may be altered without
any others being influenced. Localized
tendencies may produce irreparable re-
suits in the rapidly growing ovum with
out observable symptoms in the mature
maternal organism.
"Minimal deficiencies in the mother
may be demonstrated later by a mani
fest symptom complex. Acute under
nutrition may have one result and
chronic malnutrition may produce an
other. Unbalanced diets seem more dis
tinctive than plain starvation"
Hemorrhages of the new born, for
example. may be due primarily to de-
ficiency Of vitamin K. the "clott!ng
vitamin." in the mothers This also
may result in damage to the infants
central nervous system. Observations
over period of years are urged.
Linked With Vitamin X.
Says the report: whether Its con-
nection with blood coagulation Is the
only function of vitamin K in the body
and whether animal experiments show
ing vascular changes from vitamin K
deficiency have significance in human
physiology are important questions.
High still-birth rate. the neonatal death
rate and cerebral damage as a result
of changes In the cells of the brain and
vessel walls resulting in various forms
of spastic palsies may be linked with the
vitamin K. This vitamin may also re-
quire consideration IN relation to other
nutritional factors which influence the
cells in the brain, such as vitamin E
and thiamine"
Much also may be accomplished. the
report points out, from study Of the
RH factor in the maternal blood which
sometimes threatens the life of the new
born infant. The incompatible fetal
blood, entering the circulation of the
mother. combines to form poisons giving
rise to various forms of blood disease.
The incidence Of this disease, according
to a recent estimate, Is about one in
every 800 births.