In this exhaustive study of the social factors having to do with infant hygiene, the author shows that the hygiene, particularly of infancy, must be the result of, or go hand in hand with, medical observation. Hereditary and constitutional factors must be considered, and an understanding of the physiology and pathology of infancy is essential. These phases are thoroughly presented. The procedures and laws relative to maternal and infant hygiene in the various countries of Europe and the United States are presented in considerable detail.
The book is divided into four parts: (1) eugenics and heredity, (2) the hygiene of maternity, (3) the hygiene of infancy and (4) statistics of infancy. The whole represents a most complete study and is invaluable for reference.