40 THE COMMON SENSE OF THE MILK QUESTION 



feeding. Among the most interesting of recent pri- 

 vate experiments is that conducted by Messrs. Bhir 

 and Bhir, owners of a large manufacturing estab- 

 lishment at Elbeuf, France. Large numbers of mar- 

 ried women are employed, and those with young 

 babies are encouraged to nurse them at the breast. 

 They are urged to keep the infant in the municipal 

 creche, near the works, during the daytime, and are 

 allowed to take the time necessary at regular inter- 

 vals during the day to nurse them. For every child 

 who is exclusively breast-fed in this manner right 

 up to the age for weaning, one hundred francs is 

 deposited in a bank by the firm. According to 

 Professor Budin, the results of this system have 

 been quite encouraging. Except for the financial 

 part of the scheme, and the fact that the crkihes are 

 frequently right on the premises, the same system 

 is followed in most of the government factories and 

 workshops connected with the match and tobacco 

 monopolies, the postal telegraph and telephone ser- 

 vices, and the like.'' 



In Cologne, Germany, such women are persuaded 

 to stay at home, and as long as they continue to 

 suckle their babies and to care for them properly 

 in other ways, they are paid by the city out of the 

 •municipal funds.'' It is frankly recognized that 

 efficient motherhood is a valuable service to the 

 state. Much the same course is followed in several 



