In 1899, Merck published a small book of all the maladies known to the medical world, along with a comprehensive listing of all the medicines available to treat these diseases. Just one year before that book became available, a baby was born on a farm in southeast Georgia. I am that baby 105 years later.

When I was born there were no baby foods and no prepared formulas; if a mother did not nurse or chew for her baby, it stood a poor chance of surviving. Surgery in 1898 was almost nil; except for smallpox vaccinations, there were no immunizations; anesthetics were primitive; and x-rays had been discovered only 3 years earlier. Then, early in the 20th century, immunization was being developed; with better anesthetics, surgery became more sophisticated; antibiotics were also being developed, as were dramatic diagnostic procedures. These things have taken place during the lifetime of the child of 1899, that is, during my lifetime. As a practicing pediatrician for more than 70 years, retiring in 2001, I watched these marvels unfold, and what blessings they have proved to be in saving, prolonging, and enhancing life!

In modern times, we have little excuse for a baby's losing his life. We have immunizations, baby food, surgeons who can put in a new heart or liver, and neonatal care that saves the lives of scores of babies who, 100 years ago, would not have survived.

However, with all that we have to keep a baby alive, we have more sick children today per capita than we had 100 years ago. When I started in practice, there were no day cares, mothers' mornings-out, or church nurseries. Children were cared for by their parents. Today, tremendous numbers of children never get parental guidance. What we really need today—and I speak after nearly 100 years of observation—is better parental guidance so that these wonderful medical advances can be used to give every child a chance.