174 Heredity and Child Culture 



tact infections. It seems impossible to avoid 

 manifold cross infections when those sus- 

 ceptible infants are handled in mass. They 

 have a low resistance ; all kinds of colds, especi- 

 ally of the influenza type, spread unchecked, and 

 many cases of bronchitis and broncho-pneu- 

 monia are thus contracted. If the specific con- 

 tagions, such as measles, scarlet-fever, whoop- 

 ing-cough or chicken-pox gain access to an in- 

 stitution, as they very frequently do, they 

 spread like wild fire and the results are often 

 most disastrous. 



There is also constant danger in children's 

 hospitals, as well as asylums, from the entrance 

 and spread of these infections. I do not 

 approve of the multiplication of infants' and 

 children's hospitals through the country. A 

 few can do all the necessary work. In most 

 cases, a small ward in a general hospital can 

 function efficiently and economically for sick 

 children requiring special care. The hospital 

 need only be utilized for surgical operations, 

 for severe illnesses requiring highly specialized 

 nursing and treatment, and for scientific obser- 



