THE SANITARY FACTORS 87 



The first institution of this kind in the United States 

 was established at the Eastern Dispensary in New 

 York, by Dr. Henry Koplik, in 1889. The establish- 

 ment of the important Straus milk depots was begun, 

 in New York, in 1893, and have since had a great in- 

 fluence in this field of endeavor. The Straus depots 

 dispense milk of the highest grade, modified and pas- 

 teurized at the depot. Similar work is also carried on 

 by the New York Milk Committee, the Health De- 

 partment, and other organizations in New York City. 

 The first municipal milk station was established in 

 Rochester, N. Y., in 1897. Infants' milk depots rmve 

 been established, under either unofficial or municipal 

 control, in all the larger cities, of the United States and 

 in many of the smaller ones. 15 



Curiously enough, what was originally incidental to 

 the infants' milk depot has become the chief function 

 of the fully developed infant welfare station, con- 

 sultation and advice in the general hygiene of the in- 

 fant. When the milk was modified it was found neces- 

 sary to bring the baby to the depot for examination 

 and prescription of the formula; hence the consulta- 

 tion class. The distribution of milk has now become 

 subordinate to the encouragement of maternal feeding 

 and of the general hygiene of the child; and even when 

 artificial feeding is necessary, instruction in the methods 

 of feeding and, in many cases, of home modification of 

 milk is as essential as the milk itself. Dr. S. Josephine 

 Baker of the New York City Department of Health 

 has given the opinion that "the solution of the problem 

 of infant mortality is 20 per cent pure milk and 80 per 

 cent training of the mothers." Prenatal instruction, 



