MISS JULIA C. LATHROP'S PAPER 89 



name and address appeared on a perforated slip 

 which was removed in the mother's presence, thus 

 assuring her that the schedule was returned to the 

 office without a name upon it, and that the Govern- 

 ment only desired the facts, without any tinge of 

 personality. 



Fifteen hundred and fifty-eight schedules were 

 secured. It is interesting to note that there were 

 two refusals. 



It is obvious that such an inquiry is absolutely 

 democratic, since it must follow the history of every 

 baby wherever born, if born within the given year. 

 The agents found everywhere a cordial reception. 

 Whether among the foreign-born women who must 

 be visited with an interpreter, .or in the American 

 quarter of the town, the mothers responded to the 

 request of the Government that they co-operate in 

 an effort to learn how to safeguard their own and 

 their neighbours' babies' lives. The State Board 

 of Health sent for distribution in the foreign quarters 

 circulars in various languages on the care of babies. 

 The American mothers took our agents to task 

 because the Government had no instructions in 

 English for them, complaining of the confusion of 

 doctrine among doctors, nurses, neighbours and 

 relatives. 



Such an inquiry should bring out an invaluable 

 by-product of local attention, and this is shown in 

 the present instance by the interest of the Health 

 Department, the press, the women's clubs, and the 

 clergy ; by renewed public activity in such matters 

 as the disposal of garbage ; and by the request of 

 the city that the Department of Agriculture make 

 a thorough examination of the milk supply. This 

 examination is now (June, 1913) under way. 



It would hardly seem worth while to take up 

 your time with a description of so slender an inquiry, 

 were it not to be considered the beginning of a series 



