ment of specially qualified nurses to visit and instruct mothers before and after the birth of their children, and the promotion of needed legislative reforms. It announces itself as
less concerned with reducing the death rate than with improving the health of the people. However, the problems are practically identical.
Work at Home
These and similar methods have been followed to some extent in a few American cities, in part by boards of health, and in part by various private agencies. Already the increase in scientific knowledge, and the new social consciousness, have resulted in a marked reduction in our infant death rate within the last few years. It is estimated that during the decade 1900-1910 the decrease was 19 per cent., or nearly one fifth, which of course satisfactorily offsets, in a measure, the reduction in number of births. The mother's contribution to the world is not to be measured by the number of children she has borne, but by the number brought to a vigorous and useful maturity.
In order to make all the knowledge collected on this subject generally available, to induce comparisons, and to enable one community to profit by another's experience, the Children's Bureau has issued the first of a projected series of annual bulletins on "Baby-Saving Campaigns in American Cities." The lack of financial support is the greatest obstacle to efficient work. The motto of the health department of New York City is worthy of note.
Public health is purchasable; within natural limitations a community can determine its own death rate.
These significant words should hang upon the walls of every city hall in the land.
Surely nature's first law should be man's first concern, not only for himself, but for the community; not for his own children alone, but for all children, since none can be safe where all are not safe. Legislator, tax-payer, what would you take in exchange for the life of your child? How much are you willing to give in order adequately to safeguard its precious life and all the other precious lives in your community? A certain city of more than a half million inhabitants wrote to the Children's Bureau through its board of health as follows:
We have no funds available to organize a division for the care of infants.
Another large city, on being asked its plans for a summer campaign against children's digestive diseases, replied:
We have been unable to get an appropriation for a campaign of this kind.
Wherever this state of affairs exists—and may it not be in our own community?—it is incumbent upon individual women to organize, or
