preventable causes, but from figures at hand it is safe to say that 

 at least half, probably more, could have been prevented if mothers 

 had been taught the proper care of their children, and if there 

 had been a safe milk supply. Visiting nurses, for teaching infant 

 hygiene are one of the first necessities, if a reduction in the 

 number of infant deaths is to be made. It might be possible to 

 use a public school building in the congested district of the 

 southwestern section of the city as an infant welfare and milk 

 station for such nurses. This has been done with success in 



INF A NT MOR TALITY 



Eighty-five San T)iego babies under one year of age died in 

 1 9 13. Most of them should have lived. 



Four Ways for the Health T)epartment to Save Babies 



1 . By popular health education 



2. By advice to mothers 



3. By an infant welfare station with visitiug nurses. 



4. By a pure milk supply. 



Shall We Prevent This Needless Tragedy Next Year? 



other cities. There is, furthermore, a need for a free day nurs- 

 ery in San Diego, where working mothers can leave their babies 

 in the care of trained nurses while away from home. There is one 

 such private pay institution in the city but with limited capacity 

 and doing its work under unsatisfactory conditions. Why should 

 large sums of public money be paid for children as soon aa they 

 become of school age, when possibly irreparable injury has al- 

 ready been done them by lack of care and proper nutrition be- 

 fore they have reached that age? Why is it that in as rich a 

 city as San Diego there is no money in the pubHc treasury for 

 dying babies ? I am told that when San Diego was a small town 

 the people were up in arms whenever a baby died, and demanded 

 to know the reason for such an unusual occurrence. Now that 

 the town has grown to a city, people have forgotten to ask why 

 their neighbors' babies are dying, and have forgotten to offer 

 neighborly assistance to mothers to prevent such catastrophes. 



Brief Summary of Recommendations 



Extension of the sewer system and change in method of sew- 

 age disposal. Proper refuse and garbage collection and disposal. 

 Appointment of visiting nurses, which shall include special baby 

 welfare, tuberculosis and general nurses. A plan for uniting 

 city and county public hospital and dispensary work. The pass- 

 ing of city ordinances providing a pure milk supply. A full time 

 health officer. Further investigation of housing with a view to- 

 ward supplying sanitary small houses. 



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