CARE OF BABIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 233, 1 October 1932, Page 11

CARE OF BABIES.

WORK IN AUSTRALIA. FOR MOTHERS AND INFANTS. THE DALWOOD INSTITUTION. One of the blots on the social system as it existed to-day in New South. Wales and elsewhere was that racehorses and dogs bred for racing were considered of more value than babies, said Mr. G. Fitzpatrick, who holds high administrative posts in the hospital world iu New South Wales. He and his wife and daughter are holidaying in the Dominion. Ho is superintendent of the N.S.W. Communal Hospital (incorporated), and deputy-chairman of the St. Margaret's Maternity Hospital. "One hears not uncommonly of babies being deserted on the streets and doors of charitable institutions," he added, "but seldom, if ever, of young racehorses and prize- dogs being similarly treated. It is that attitude that we arc trying to break down in Australia. We have, in the Commonwealth, what we call tho 'Food for Babies Fund/ and with it is associated the Dalwood Health Home, of which I am honorary chairman and chief administrative officer. That is why I can speak with authority about it. That home acts as a 'preventorium,' where children are taken before they are actually sick. There are 100 children there all the time, boys up to the age of six, and girls of any age. The children are not eolely of poor parents, but to take chaige of the children of a mother, eay, who has to go into hospital, and thus leave her mind at rest, is part of our duties." Oranges And Milk. Mr. Fitzpatrick said that extensive use of oranges and milk as items in the diet of the children had proved a great success. While he was in Auckland ho had been interested to visit the Auckland Community Sunshine Association, which was working on the same lines as the home to which he had been referring. He thought that any work to help children was worth while'.

When mothers came out of St. Margaret's Hospital they were taken, with their babies, to the home for a month. "We have many homes for mothers, plenty of homes for children; but the Dalwood Home is the only institution into which both mother and child are taken." Problem Of Reproduction. It has been said, added Mr. Fitzpatrick, that the criminal classes came from the ranks of under-nourished children; and that, also, a nation marched forward on the "feet of its little children. For that reason, then, it was one of the tragedies of society to-day that persons, ill-equipped mentally and physically, were allowed to reproduce their kind. Asked if he believed in birth, control, he said: "That opens up a big question to which, in a short space, I could not do justice. There are many aspects, but conditionally. I say that birth control might be encouraged." In the same way, and just as cautiously, he favoured sterilisation. While in Auckland he paid repeated visits to the hospitals in the- city. To his knowledge there was not a hospital in Australia as large as the Auckland Public Hospital. In the Commonwealth there was not one he know of with 100 ' beds. ■ He also visited the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. He was able to learn much through the courtesy of Dr. J. W. Craven, medical superintendent at the public hospital, and the Mother Superior at the Mater.