DR. CHAS. A. HODGETTS' PAPER 59 



insurance and pensions of its citizens in the later 

 years of life, all of which measures have a direct 

 bearing upon the physical condition of the people. 

 The State and municipalities have yet to 1 cover the 

 most important part of the field of preventive medi- 

 cine, the one big with import to the nation. What- 

 ever is most essential for preventing the great waste 

 of infant life should be adopted as a system by the 

 State and carried out under the direction of the 

 health authorities, thereby permitting of its greatest 

 use and of its uniform and routine application. 



The health departments, now vested with power 

 of entrance into the home, should be officered and 

 equipped so that "the child" can be cared for and 

 nurtured through the years most likely to secure the 

 best results. By beginning the work of hygiene at 

 and before birth, many, if not most, of the defects 

 and permanent disabilities which the State is now 

 striving to cure at great cost through the agency of 

 the medical inspection of school children will be 

 prevented. The health department is that most 

 suited to efficiently and economically co-ordinate 

 whatever philanthropic work may be found suited 

 to the peculiar wants of each municipality. 



It is now the function of State and municipal 

 health departments to adopt and carry out many of 

 the measures essential in the conservation of child 

 life, such as : 



(1) The inspection of the -home "the hygiene 

 of the home." 



(2) The education of the people in everything 

 appertaining to the life and health of " the baby," 

 " the child," as well as " the mother " and " the 

 father," no matter whether this education be theoreti- 

 cal or practical or through executive agencies. 



(3) The betterment and maintenance of environ- 

 ment both within as well as without the home. 



(4) The oversight of institutions having for their 

 object the care of infants. 



