ADDRESS 



By IRVING FISHER, Ph. D., New Haven 



There are many evidences today that the interest in the problem 

 of conserving our national vitality is greater than ever before. 

 The study and prevention of tuberculosis is one of these evi- 

 dences. The study and prevention of the pollution of streams, 

 in which one of the citizens of this city is particularly interested, 

 is another evidence. The study and prevention of the social evil 

 is an important evidence. And the study and prevention of 

 infant mortality is another, which appeals, perhaps more than 

 any of the others that I have mentioned or might mention, to 

 the general public. It is beginning to appeal to the states- 

 man, and even to some extent to the ordinary politician. In 

 New York City recently Mr. Lawrence Veiller, who is our lead- 

 ing authority on housing in this country, wished to get the 

 support of Tim Sullivan for getting better tenements in "Big 

 Tim's" district. He spoke to the politician in regard to the 

 matter and was asked what effect there would be on the district 

 from having better tenements. Veiller replied : "I shall have to 

 admit that it will probably reduce the number of people in your 

 district; but, on the other hand, it will reduce the number of 

 deaths." Mr. Sullivan stopped to think a moment, and said: 

 "I am with you. Those babies' funerals get on my nerves." I 

 think that babies' funerals are getting on the nerves of every- 

 body who realizes what they mean. If we could have pass by 

 our windows as Sullivan had pass by his windows, the funerals 

 of babies that die from unnecessary causes we would begin to 

 appreciate what it means. 



In Shakespeare's play, "Macbeth," one of the most effective 

 scenes is where the witches conjure up the ghosts of those 

 who are slain by Macbeth in order to excite in his mind remorse 

 and a sense of responsibility for their death. If some witch or 

 wizard could conjure up the unnecessary babies' funerals annu- 

 ally occurring in this country, we would find that the little 

 hearses would reach from here nearly to Chicago, and if 

 we should add the mourning mothers and friends, it would 

 make a cortege extending across the Continent. I refer not to 



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