it is now a well-established truism to say that the most injurious influences affecting the physical condition of young children arise from the habits, customs and practices of the people themselves rather than from external surroundings or conditions. the environment of the infant is its mother. its health and physical fitness are dependent primarily upon her health, her capacity in domesticity, and her knowledge of infant care and management. thus the fundamental requirement in regard to this particular problem is healthy motherhood and the art and practice of mother-craft. given a healthy and careful mother we are on the high road to securing a healthy infant; from healthy infancy we may expect healthy childhood, and from healthy childhood may be laid the foundations of a nation’s health.

“education and infant welfare.”

annual report for 1914 of the chief medical officer of the board of education.