236 MEDICAL SECTION 



our medical service which is rendered in the elementary 

 schools, and who undertake to visit the homes where the 

 children come from who attend our schools, and in that 

 way give practical advice to mothers who, I believe, are 

 only too willing to learn if they are approached in a proper 

 and respectful way. In conclusion, may I say that I have 

 been anxious in the short time that I have been at the 

 Board of Education to do what I can to help to institute 

 schools for mothers by giving the most liberal interpretation 

 I can to our technical regulations which allow us to give 

 grants to these schools ? I hope next year that such insti- 

 tutions as creches, nursery schools, and schools for mothers 

 may be further assisted by the State in the National 

 Education system which I hope then to be permitted to 

 propose. Finally, I desire to welcome all those who are 

 taking part in this particular section, and I may say, after 

 reading the papers which I have been privileged to see in 

 advance, that I do feel that this Conference will accomplish 

 a great work in the future by stimulating public opinion 

 outside, "by promoting a reduction in infantile mortality, and 

 by bringing into existence a more virile race of which future 

 generations may well be proud. 



THE NECESSITY FOR SPECIAL EDUCA- 

 TION IN INFANT HYGIENE, WITH 

 PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE 

 MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



BY LINN^US EDFORD LA FETRA, A.B., M.D., 

 OF NEW YORK. 



Associate in Diseases of Children, Columbia University ; Visiting Physician, Pediatrics 

 Department, Bellevue Hospital. 



SPECIAL education in infant hygiene is a necessity, 

 because, in the first place, the mortality among infants 

 and young children is higher than at any other period 

 of life. More than one quarter of the total deaths of 

 the community occur in children under the age of 

 3 years. Twenty-five per cent, of infants born alive 

 die during the first year, 7 per cent, more during the 

 second year, and 3 per cent, more during the third 

 year ; so that of 100 newborn babies more than 

 thirty-three will be dead, under ordinary conditions, 



