Luther Emmett Holt (March 4, 1855 - January 14, 1924) was an American pediatrician and author, noted for writing, The Care and Feeding of Children in 1894. He also wrote Diseases of Infancy and Childhood in 1896. The book would go through 11 editions and remain the definitive text on pediatrics until 1940 He pioneered the science of pediatrics, and became the head physician at New York's Babies Hospital in 1888. Under his leadership it became the leading pediatric hospital of its time. One of Holt's most notable accomplishments is the introduction of milk certification in New York City. He proved that a large proportion of infant fatalities were due to excessively high bacterial counts. He was instrumental in the creation of milk commissions and advisory boards for the city's Department of Health. Following his development of a child welfare program adopted at the Red Cross Cannes Conference (1919), he was elected president of the Child Health Organization. Holt suffered a heart attack and died in Peking on January 14, 1924.
