42 ADDRESS 



of polluted milk ; it might require more stringent enforcement 

 of laws toward inspection of dairy herds and the destruction 

 of tuberculous cattle, and, in general, the laws regulating the 

 protection and cleanliness of milk. There is now existing a so- 

 called league for medical freedom ; that is, freedom to practice 

 medicine for those who do not know how to practice medicine ; 

 freedom to pollute the foods of infants. There is no question 

 in my mind that the issuance by the Department of Agriculture 

 of the bulletin showing how much of our infant mortality is 

 due to soothing syrups has had much to do with stirring up 

 commercial opposition to a National Department of Health. It 

 remains for the people of the United States to say whether the 

 commercial interests of those who produce the food for babies 

 are to be put above the valuation of the babies themselves. And 

 if the Department of Health when established shall have had 

 the effect of restricting the freedom of those who would like 

 to put into the stomachs of babies what is bad for the babies, 

 it will have had for one of its results the reduction of infant 

 mortality. 



Dr. Knox: I am sure we are grateful to Professor Fisher for his 

 careful analysis of our problem and for indicating what a large factor 

 it is in the general health of the country. Our Association will be 

 glad to work with Professor Fisher in his effort to secure legislation 

 necessary for the establishment of a National Department of Health. 



Now we have before us the additional pleasure of hearing about 

 babies from one who has known the baby longer perhaps than any- 

 one in this country. None of us who is interested particularly in 

 pediatrics think we can decide any question without first going to 

 hear what Dr. Jacobi has to say about it, and we do not feel like 

 saying the last word on this question without asking his advice. It 

 is with pleasure that I present Dr. Abraham Jacobi, of New York. 



