DISCUSSION 73 



It seems to me that one of the important things in each community 

 is to have a general plan so that each agency that is dealing with in- 

 fants in any manner whatsoever, whether in their own homes, whether 

 through visiting nurses or institutional care, or in whatever particu- 

 lar way they touch the life of the infant, may be encouraged to fill 

 in the fullest measure the field in which it is fitted to act. Also, 

 an effort should be made under the Departments of Health and Chari- 

 ties of the cities, each season at the beginning of the hot weather 

 period, when infant mortality rates go up, to bring out the full 

 strength and influence of all the existing agencies for the promotion 

 of infant welfare in the community; and to help to encourage and 

 educate along the right lines those agencies that may not have had 

 the right point of view in this work. 



If we can learn to know the needs of our communities, we can 

 begin to make progress. I am glad to report that in Philadelphia 

 a beginning has been made in this direction, and early last summer 

 a large and enthusiastic meeting was held in the Mayor's office, 

 called by Dr. Neff, and a great advance was made in bringing to- 

 gether representatives of practically every agency in the city deal- 

 ing with infants. We cannot report as great success as we had 

 hoped, but a very great gain was made in the prevention of infant 

 mortality. I believe that the plan should be inaugurated at the 

 opening of each season in succeeding years. We shall learn by 

 experience, and as one of the agencies working under that plan, 

 having a particular function to perform, namely the boarding out 

 of infants, I think that great progress can be made by co-operation. 

 Unless we know the lacks in our community we cannot make pro- 

 gress and we are not likely to know them until we can bring 

 together all of the people who are interested in the problem. 



Dr. S. W. Newmayer, Philadelphia: It is so evident that many 

 factors enter into the causation of the great mortality among infants, 

 and many resources furnished by many agencies are needed to pre- 

 vent these deaths. Mr. Solenberger has told you something about 

 Philadelphia's efforts to bring together all the organizations and 

 societies working among infants and their mothers. We had in the 

 City Hall an office to which all these agencies reported, and from 

 this office various cases were referred to the particular agency which 

 would be interested in any certain case. This office was a "clearing 

 house" for philanthropy. There were registered here all the milk 

 and ice stations, dispensaries, hospitals, nurseries, societies furnish- 

 ing outings for convalescents to country or seashore, settlement and 

 neighborhood houses, shelters and the many divisions of the health 

 bureau, they all worked harmoniously together and the plan was 

 eminently successful. 



I would call your attention to an experiment which is soon to be 

 tried in Philadelphia, and one which I believe will be of great value 

 in solving the problem of the expectant mother who is compelled 

 to work in factories. Laws enacted to control the employer from 

 allowing these women to remain at work to the last day, and then 

 return, in a few days, may be difficult to enforce. The Visiting 

 Nurses' Society intends to send nurses to the factories to instruct and 

 care for the female employee. You can realize what vast amount of 

 good can be accomplished by such a plan. Few large factories would 

 not be willing to contribute small sums to support such work. It 

 would be an economic benefit to the employer. This thought may 

 give you some ideas for similar plans in other cities. 



