Our Babies

(By Hygeia). , CROMWELL HOUSE. \ In the July 12 number of Home Chat , there is a! short account of the Mothercraft Training Society's new premises in ; Cromwell House, Highgate. London. Our readers wilt be interested to read i this account of the progress of our' Society's first English) offshoot. ' < —A' Royal President. —- There is a link this year between the British Empire Exhibition and the Mothererafti Training Society, for the president of the Women's Section of the Exhibition is; the Duchess of York, and the chairman -of that section, is Lady Galway, while-each holds the same position in! regard to the Mothercraft Training'. Society. Her Royal Highness, in accepting the presidency on the death of Princess Christian., thus proves her keetw and ardent- desire to help forward every movement for the carte of the babies of the Empire, the future, of which will depend on them during the next few years. —An Historic Home.— Lady Galway, as chairman, is untiring in her efforts to interest others in ' this splendid organisation. ! 'I am so: pfleased l that our troubles are over with regard to finding another house on the expiration of the lease l at Trebovir road, Earl's Court," she said to me the other, day. "We were beeom- . ing rather anxious about new quarters, but now we have teen able to buy a beautiful old-world 'mansion—Cromwell House, on Higbgate Hill, overlooking Waterlow Park. This will be the new

home ot the Mothercrafo Training Society, and is a delightfully situated place for our babies. The house is supposed ' to' have been buiilt in 1630 by Cromwell for his son-in-law. and is surrounded by a, lovely garden atnd lawn of about one acre and a half, with shady trees, so that the babies will have plenty of air. The rooms are very large and. lofty, and! the ceilings beautifully carved', while there is a magnificent oak staircase, with carved figures of cavaliers at each landing. This is the principal historical feature in the house, as well as adding to its beauty. The doors' afe of thick panelled oak. and deeply set in the older style. The house isi of the greatest interest to lovers of architectural beauty. Our lease expires in the autumn, so that we shall have to move out before then." —lnteresting Improvements.— "There are many alterations and improvements to be made before we take possession," said Miss Harvard, the secretary, "as we ; must have a sunbalcony for the babies, so that- they can be rolled out there in the cots to obtain all possible benefit from the sun during fine days. Besides, electric light and central heating must be installed, and we want a new wing for bedrooms for the students and a hostel for the nurses. About £7OOO will be required for the alterations, and a total of about £15,000 for all the work that we think is necessary. "It may be necessary to take a house near by as a temporary hostel for the nurses until we can see our wav to build. But there will be plenty of accommodation" now for the out-patients' department, which is so cramped at Trebovir road, and w<a will be able to

have 25 babies in residence then instead of 21 as at present. Besides, at Highgate we can have a laundry on up-to-date lines, instead of the makeshift arrangement which we have at present, and there will be better accommodation for the domestic staff."' It is a -very wholesome sign, so far as public institutions are concerned,that the Home has been carried on so successfully that up to the present the income has been sufficient to cover the expenses. . __ "Only babies who are suffering from malnutrition and digestive troubles are received," the secretary continued, "as well as a certain number of normal babies, with their mothers, who remain for 15 months, from about four weeks old. The mothers act aB maids in the Honie, and nurse their infants. One has been able, in addition, to act as foster-mother to babies brought in whose mothers have not been able to breast-feed them." —''Nanny's Adviser." Dr Truby King was the founder of the Society when he came to London by invitation, and the matron, Miss M. Liddiard, was trained by him, so uiat s"he,- in turn, might train the nurses and students in the Truby King method of child-rearing. The students may be either fitliyqualffied nurses, who come for three months; nurses with C.M.8., who come for four or six months, and unqualified students, who undergo a. year's training. .These, after they pass the -necessary examination and obtain the: Society's certificate, can take positions as nursery nurses. As a matter of fact. many take temporary advisory posts to help the "nanny" by giving her hints and suggestions on the care of the

little ones under her charge as regards < their healthi amdi dietary. —Better Babies.— ] Of course, this is all-important, no ' matter whether the children be well or < aihng, as the fit ahildr.m must be kept ' fit, and those others must be made fit by proper care and attention. As the students; are trained with .normal babies and ailing babies they gain Valuable experience, which they are capable of' passing on to mothers and "nannies," and thus spreading the splendid movement which Dr Trubv King originated for the babies of the Emtire. Parents pay according to their means for their child, but where a child's parents are quite poor the child is-admit-ted free. There is a: nurse for each child, as the individual attention which each child receives is the main feature ot the Home, and! there are three sisters, m charge of the nurses, under the. matron. A special emu'siou is made in tho dispensary at the Home, and this has worked marvel's in the eases of malnutrition. —Memo, by Hygeia.— ii'uinket Emulsion, 'sent from New Zealand -to- London, is nw used at the Motliea-rait Training Centre, instead of the original emulsion, devised bv Dr '! ruby King during wartime, which was pi enured in the London institution. The present, preparation has been perfected iilter years of work. It is used extensively throughout New Zealand, also in -\ ustralia and South Africa.