Life — April 5, 1923 — page 29: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

LIFE 27 Mother and Child doing well Every year — These glad tidings are sent out by more than two million proud fathers in the United States. They are sent from the Multiply that one dying mother by 20,000 and you get a picture that not only fires the mind beyond the realms of imagination, but one that stuns bedsides of the two million or more happy mothers who have had competent care. Motherhood is Natural — and where the moth- er’s health has been safe-guarded before the coming of her baby and where she has had proper care . its ed the appy report follows: “Mother and child doing well.” But what of the thou- sands of unfortunate mothers—who have no pre-natal care and who, when. their hour comes, are in Two-Fifths of the Deathsfrom Childbirth are the result of ignorance or criminal carelessness. The medical name for the direct cause is Septicemia. Septicemia is infection, caused by germs on attendant’s hands, on instruments, on linen, or on some other article used in caring for the patient. Soap and water alone cannot produce the cleanliness necessary. Hands must be made antiseptically clean. In- struments must be sterilized (boiled). A little everyday knowledge and scrupulous care in each case—Septicemia is pre- vented—and these mother-lives saved. 5000 mothers die yearly from bodily neglect before their babies are born. The mother’s body is working for two. This puts extra strain on the kidneys and other organs. Precautionary examina- tions by a physician show whether the kidneys are in good working condition, and care reduces danger from convulsions to a minimum. by its brutality—for most of these deaths are needless deaths, They can be prevented. 10,000 Men Killed— When this. news was flashed from the front during the Great War, our entire nation was hushed to tears and bowed its head in grief. Yet twice that many mothers die every year from childbirth here at home! Millions are working for World Peace— working to save the loss of life in war. Then why permit the unnecessary sacrifice of mother-lives careless or incompetent hands. 20,000 Such Mothers Die Needlessly— die needlessly every year in the United States. “Put just one of these mothers in a vast hall. Let her die publicly, where thousands can see her, and ob- serve the outcry. Imagination fails!” So writes a great editor. 1,1922to December po miele nd ‘over 700,000 visits to policy holders in maternity cases, not —the choice lives of our Nation? Mothers in every part of the country need help— What shall the answer be? Husbands, physicians, hospi- tals, communities must ensure absolute cleanliness and pro- vide skilled care. death rate is being reduced is an ‘but t teach- indication of the possibilities when every mother shall have pre-natal care and proper attendance during and after confinement. li The company is ready to send a simple but scien: focuice cadtied: “Information for Mothers”. by METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY—NEW YORK comicbooks.com