450 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



fair voted unanimously to make the babies' health contest a regular 

 department of the Iowa state fair, and appropriated $500 for prizes and 

 equipment for the contest for 1912. 



Expert assistance, better equipment and experience gained from pre- 

 vious efforts made the second state fair contest an even greater success 

 than the first, and made the committee in charge more certain of the 

 value of the contest idea as a public educator. 



Almost every day since the first contest was held, letters of inquiry 

 have been received asking information concerning plans for conducting 

 similar contests. Many "babies' health" contests have been held in Iowa 

 the past year and more are planned for the future. Other states have 

 been attracted by its possibilities and contests have been made a lead- 

 ing feature of their state fairs, household exhibits and chautauquas. 



In this new kind of a baby show pretty dresses and blue ribbons do 

 not count, for they are piled in a dainty heap on a chair and the babe 

 goes before his physical judges, as naked as the day he was born. 



Kicking and crowing he is taken from his mother's arms, and laid 

 gently on the measuring board. While one of the physicians presses 

 firmly on his knees to straighten his limbs, another adjusts the gauge 

 that gives his exact height in fractions of an inch. Then he is set up, 

 his feet are braced against a standard and he is encouraged to pull with 

 all his muscles taut. While this is going on a quick eyed judge notes 

 color and condition of skin, and another gives him proper credit for mus- 

 cular development. 



A few moments later the baby finds himself deposited in the pan of 

 a pair of scales and as he feels himself dropping into space as the 

 strong hands of the physician release him, he lets out a lusty yell of 

 surprise. The mother, anxiously watching every move, jumps from her 

 seat in alarm, but settles back contentedly as a smile goes from judge to 

 judge and word is passed along to mark his honor up for a good pair of 

 lungs. 



The findings of the judges are written on a score card, similar to those 

 used in judging stock, in fact Dr. Margaret Clark, of Waterloo, Iowa, 

 used a live stock scoring card as a model, making of course, necessary 

 changes to meet the requirements of the human body. 



One of the most interesting facts brought out by the initial babies' 

 health contest was that Charles Elmer O'Toole, who won first prize at 

 the first state fair contest, scoring 96 14 points, was a delicate child for the 

 first six months of his life. 



Careful diet, fresh air and regular hours for sleep and exercise had 

 made his physique at three years, so perfect, that the examining physi- 

 cians could find no flaws, but marked down a little, because they be- 

 lieved there could scarcely be absolute perfection in a child. Charles 

 Elmer O'Toole's perfect points were: Weight, 35 pounds, height, 35 inches, 

 chest, 35 inches, head, 19 14 inches — cephalic index. 



Babies who are born with normal health and bodies have a great ad- 

 vantage in life. There is no better way to make parents think than to 

 set down in black and white their child's defects. 



The Convention then adjourned until 1 :30 p. m. 



