Boy lost $12,000.

Result of Failure to Register Birth of a Baby.

Many parents in Danbury and those in other Connecticut cities and towns do not register the births of their children. These are cases not attended by physicians. Some parents object to their children being registered because if they pass the school test they can put them to work earlier. A few others not long in this country, perhaps, think publication of a birth in a newspaper is sufficient.

This is one of the issues that is being pressed by the local ``Baby Week'' committee. In 1914 in this state twenty per cent. of the births reported to the children's bureau at Washington, D. C., were unregistered. It was reported at the last meeting of the local committee that an Indiana boy lost an inheritance of 312,000 because he had no birth certificate and there was no legal proof of his identity.

Another heir in order to get a farm that was willed to her, had to prove the date of her birth. She finally succeeded, but only by proving that she was born on the same day that a high bred calf was born in her father's barn. The calf had a birth certificate, but the girl did not have one.

Besides lectures, exhibitions and essays, the campaign in Danbury will be pursued through various other methods. Leaflets will be distributed to the homes of children and prospective children and information disseminated generally covering baby ``preservers'' and ``baby killers.'' These will embody genuinely needful facts and include invitations to the talks by Prof. C. E. A. Winslow, of Yale; Miss Matilda Collins, the school nurse; Miss Mary Brennan, the visiting nurse, and Dr. Annie Keeler, who organized the Danbury Hospital Graduate Nurses Association. One of the features of the campaign in some cities is tags bearing the inscription, ``Don't kiss me! I don't like it! You may have germs!'' These are fastened on the babies whose parents are out on the streets with their offspring and are willing to help the good work along during the campaign. A member of the local committee says the fight is strong against ``pacifiers'' and ``long haul nursing bottles, '' these are among the things that today are termed ``baby killers.''

The Child's Welfare Exhibit, the first of its kind in the world and held in the 71st Regiment armory in New York city, won the hearty approval of Former President Taft among other notable men and this important subject is being preached and practiced with its widespread benefits more and more each day.

Diet or the feeding of infants is one of the prime factors in the life of the little new comers and Miss Sarah E. Sherman, one of the members of the local Baby Week committee contributes the following valuable information:

``The reasons for regular intervals of feeding infants and children are because foods require a certain length of time to digest and pass through different stages, while digesting. The stomach should be allowed enough time to perform this function; the length of time required varies according to the kind of food. Second feedings given before the first has had time to digest will result in colic and other ailments.

``Half the ills of infants and children are the results of improper foods or improper methods of feeding.

``The stomach juices change in chemical composition with different ages and a child is twelve years old before the adult stomach juice is formed.

``A child one year old cannot digest food suitable for a child three or even two years old. It is highly important that parents obtain lists of food for the different ages.

``The strength and quality of foods for infants changes several times during the first year; after that diet lists permit certain foods added each six months, others twelve months.

``There is a great deal of available literature on this subject. The Danbury Library has several scientific and authorative works on infant feeding and care. These books usually include lists of foods also adapted for children from infancy to ten or twelve years of age

``Many children live through a great deal of improper feeding---as a result many become sufferers from acute or chronic indigestion.

``Americans are called a `dyspeptic race' and will continue to be until they learn there are certain principles of food values and do not violate the physical laws of digestion.''

David Starr Jordan says: ``Nothing is so important as children. If you wish to be of any real use, do something for children.''

Danbury’s Baby Week committee feels that the March 4--11 campaign is not an end, but a means to an end. It is not expected that miracles will be accomplished, but it is felt that there will be more than a week’s temporary flutter, and it is hoped that it will be the beginning of a permanent work for the community's babies. Danbury will have a part in a nation-wide celebration--—a part in a great movement. Its results are limitless. The gospel of cleanliness, fresh air, sunshine, pure food, healthful sleep, proper surroundings, sensible clothing and good care, should reflect its effects on generations of babies, here and elsewhere.