THE HOME IN RELATION TO HEALTH 



375 



that we can control. These conditions are sanitary homes, 

 care of the mother before the child is born, expert service at the 

 time of birth, and proper feeding and care of the child after 

 birth (see Fig. 167). Of course it is important that the parents 



1st 



2nd 

 3rd 

 4th 

 5th 

 6th 

 7th 

 8th 



9th 

 10th 

 11th 

 12th 



75,583 



14,372 



Z] 



11,555 



10,092 



S,705 



7,700 



7,1S9 



6,600 



6.274 



5.921 



5.281 



5.3S* 



Fig. 167. Distribution of infant mortality during the first year 



Out of the 164,660 babies in the United States who died during the first year after 

 birth in 191 6, over 75,000 died during the first month. The chief causes of death 

 for this group were insufficient family income, diseases of the parents, poor health of 

 the mother, unskilled assistance at birth, lack of suitable care immediately after 

 birth. In other words, most of these deaths are preventable 



be healthy to begin with, but it has been shown again and again 

 that even in the case of unhealthy parents it is possible to care 

 for the mother in such a way as to save the baby and have it 

 grow up safely past the dangerous period. 



THE HOME IN RELATION TO HEALTH 



Importance of the home 



Physical well-being and health 

 First education and character formation 

 Security and comfort 

 The home and its location 



Changes in character of dwellings 

 Crowding of population into cities 

 Crowding of many homes into single buildings 



