DR. L. E. LA FETRA'S PAPER 239 



cent, of the mortality occurs in babies that are arti- 

 ficially fed. Manifestly the most important factor in 

 baby saving is to have the baby nursed by its own 

 mother. 



What measures must be taken to combat this 

 waste of infant lives ? To prevent the enormous 

 premature mortality we must not only endeavour to 

 bring about in the community the knowledge and the 

 application of the findings of the new science of 

 Eugenics or Racial Hygiene, but there must be 

 pre-natal care of the mother by the physician and 

 nurse, with assistance from the State if necessary to 

 prevent overwork and under-nourishment. There 

 must also be instruction of expectant mothers and of 

 growing girls. 



To reduce the mortality and morbidity of the first 

 year the primary consideration is maternal nursing, 

 though properly modified milk constantly adapted to 

 the baby's needs serve as a good substitute when 

 breast milk is not obtainable. Nursing by the mother 

 is almost always possible if proper care and encourage- 

 ment are given to the expectant mother. In an 

 experiment made by Dr. Schwarz in New York it 

 was found that, among 1,501 cases, 96 per cent, of the 

 mothers could be taught to nurse their babies for one 

 month or less ; 88 per cent, nursed their babies for 

 three months, and 77 per cent, for six months. How 

 much this means ! For every drop of breast-milk helps 

 not only to nourish the baby but to develop and 

 increase its digestive capacity for other milk or foods. 



In order to promote nursing, preliminary care of 

 the nipples is frequently necessary, and to prolong the 

 nursing the mother's comfort should be considered, 

 especially as regards her sleep at night. This can be 

 done by making the nursing periods regular, and at 

 least three hours apart by day, with only one feeding 

 at night ; moreover, after three months an occasional 

 bottle-feeding may be given. 



