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Show NOT CHARITY, BUT PUBUC SERVICE . WHEN young pigs are fed only corn and slop they arc nearly twice a3 long in maturing as when they have a well-balanced ration. Andi when young babies do not have the right kind of food they arc apt to die. I In 1917, 39,388 babies under one year of age' died, in the U. S. Registration Area, from digestive j troubles. Many of these babies died because their mothers did not know how to feed them. Most country coun-try mothers do give their babies breast milk, the only perfect food for infants. But sometimes they, as j well as city mothers spoil the good effect of nursing . by giving other food in addition to mother's milk, in i many cases a taste of everything that the mother eats j herself. They are surprised when they learn that j this is not good for the baby. Farmers can get scientific instruction about crops I and livestock from their home demonstration or county coun-ty agricultural agent. Their wives ought to be able to get scientific advice about feeding and caring for babies, preferably from a public health nurse. This is not charity but public service, paid for by taxes received by the U. S. government. Public health nurses, to advise and teach mothers in their own homces, can be provided in every community com-munity if the Shcppard-Towner maturity bill, now in Congress, is passed. This bill proposes federal aid for the public protection of maternity, including instruction in infant care by public health nurses. The act will operate in the same way as the Smith-Lever Smith-Lever act, by which federal aid is given to promote better farming. |