ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION 



on every hand amongst social workers, the fact is apt 

 to be overlooked that their work, in the main, is really 

 a function that should be discharged by health authori- 

 ties. The maintenance of health conditions as they 

 relate to the individual and his general environment 

 are recognized parts of health work. The widespread 

 activities of philanthropy in all that relates to the 

 child are sufficient to indicate the need for some syste- 

 matic work being undertaken by State and municipal 

 health authorities. 



As this paper is necessarily short, only one phase 

 of this work will be considered here, viz., the baby 

 and the home. 



The Baby and the Home. The baby potentially 

 represents the wealth of the nation. Approximately 

 35,000 infants under five years of age die in Canada 

 annually, of which number 25,000 are babies who 

 have not reached their first year. This national loss 

 is due (a) mainly to ignorance, (b) largely to environ- 

 ment, (c) partially to penury, (d) occasionally to 

 criminal neglect. The work at present is in the main 

 philanthropic. Through failure on the part of govern- 

 ments and municipalities to inaugurate and systemati- 

 cally carry on preventive measures, this national 

 waste of child life has not been prevented. 



Health work in the main has been extrinsic as 

 concerns the home ; hereafter it should be intrinsic. 



The achievements of philanthropy have clearly 

 demonstrated the beneficial results that can be ob- 

 tained through the adoption of scientific and rational 

 preventive measures, and have already conserved 

 many valuable lives to the State. The State has 

 already assumed the oversight of the care of the 

 child upon its reaching the school age, and has taken 

 upon itself, or placed upon the municipal authorities, 

 the care and treatment of those then found to be 

 defective or diseased. The State has, in some in- 

 stances, provided for the medical attendance, sick 



