REPORT OF THE No. 55 



as in the case of the Pure Milk League and J. Ross Robertson in Toronto, the 

 Hamilton Milk Commission and Nathan Straus in New York, or whether it is 

 undertaken or aided by the municipality, is a matter of detail. It seems clear 

 that the responsibility should rest with the municipal authorities for the safe- 

 guarding of the lives of its population. Especially in the smaller cities it is a mat- 

 ter of only a few hundred dollars and the results more than justify the expendi- 

 ture. Financial considerations should not be placed in the balance against human 

 life, even though it be infant life. Surely there can be no nobler opportunity for 

 philanthropic or civic endeavor. 



TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT. MEANS OVER 2000. 



While consideration in the present instance has been confined to cities, where 

 infantile mortality is higher than in suburban sections because conditions of life 

 as a rule are not so healthful, it is to be feared that the rate outside of cities is 

 also much too high. In 1908 there were 8662 deaths in the Province under one 

 year, including still-births. It will readily be seen that in seeking to diminish 

 these, organized effort can be best concentrated in the larger centres of population. 

 It is quite conceivable, however, that arousing intelligent interest and action on 

 this question in the cities must redound to a degree to the advantage of towns and 

 rural communities as well. A higher knowledge and a broader sympathy with the 

 subject would result in a general uplift and better living. It should diminish grief 

 and suffering and reach out for a betterment of the homes of the Province, which, 

 in the final analysis, are the objective of all endeavour and of all governmental effort. 

 To bring about a reduction of twenty-five per cent, seems not an extravagant hope 

 and such a reduction would mean a decrease of over two thousand infant deaths 

 each year. Especially in this Province of resources, where a premium is placed 

 on population, to save two thousand lives a year is an ambition splendidly worth 

 while. 



