OUR BABIES. (By Hygeia.)

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 47, 25 February 1911, Page 15

OUR B ABIES. (By Hygeia.)

Published under the auspice* ot th« Society for the Promotion ol the Health of Women and Children. "It li wiser to put up a fence i»t? tho top of si precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom." ADDRESS OF PLUNKET NURSE AND SECRETARY. iWellinsfton— Plunket Nurse M'Donald, 73, Aro-street. Tel. 2425. Hon.- sec.; Mtb. M'Yicar, 27. Brougham-street. Plunket Nurse's services free. LETTERS OF A GRANDMOTHER (Continued.) At the conclusion of last week's column the following summary was given, which I repeat in order to recall the essential facts :— SUMMARY OF PROGRESS. ' • When first seen the child was over 2i years of age, and weighed 241b. Exactly a month later (viz., on 10th February, 1908), the grandmother '-wrote : , "I must- tell you how my little grandchild^ is^getting on. I am pleased to say Ac is much, improved under tho treatment recommended. She has gained 2£lb t in weight ; v her appetite is much better, and she rests better at night." Within aiiother nine montEs tEe child had increased in weight from 241b to 34glb, and had attained above the average height for her years, having gained in 10 months about three times the ordinary "weight-increase" for twelve months from 2e to 3£ years-'of age. Of course, she was "putting.on flesh" and making up for lost time. „-fFew people are aware that a child ordinarily increases in weight only about 41b a year in the third and fourth years of life. Knowing that the average baby puts on a stone in weight in the first 12 months — thus -trebling its weight — they can scarcely "believe that growth slows down so much in the succeeding years. The immense importance of this matter is dwelt on in the sooiety's book, page 135, under the Heading, "Make Hay WEue the Sun Shines," .which should be read in thi3 connection.] -CURED OF CAPRICE 'AND i FASTIDIOUSNESS. Further progress was reported in May. It -stated -that the child was full of life and spirit, growing steadily, and "on the go" all day long. Her appetite was good, fastidiousness as to food had disappeared, and the maintenance of a consistent, regular daily regimen had completely obliterated the -oid craving for capricious and irregular indulgences. This in'e grandmother exemplified by the following incident. I When in town the ch9d was offered some sweets, but refused them of her own acoord, saying: "I don't have things between meals." 9th June, 1908. I am pleased to tell you that little 'Annie is still improving. Sne is growing fast, and is not like the same child. She takes her^ food .well". We have kept on f aithf uily % with the coH bath, and she takes a ■ good run after. Her weight is now 331b lOoz. I cannot express my gratitude for what has been, done for her. 18th July, 1908. You will be pleased to hear thast little r Annie is still keeping well and gaining in! weight. She 'has gained 2£lb since Bth June. She still continues the cold bath. N.B.— This was the coldest month of the year, and the region — Southland! 24th September, 1908. I am pleased to tell you that little Annie ifl still keeping well and getting on satisfactorily. You would hardly know her for the- same child you saw in Dunedin. She is never still long together; she plays and romps about, and sings and dances. She Eves regularly^goes to bed at the appointed time, rising and taking her meals at appointed hours. She sleeps well, and wffl now take anything that is going, and enjoys her. food. She likes her bath. 7th February, 1909. I am aure that you will be pleased to hear that little Annie is keeping splendid. She still has her cold bath and run round after it. Ist May, 1910. I am sure you will be pleased to hear that little Annie is still in splendid health; sho will be five years old this month. I was telling my son I thought it would be advisable not to send her to school until she is seven. If not troubling you too much, I should like your opinion on the matter. I sHould have written before to let you know how the_ little thing is getting on, but have been ill myself. EARLY SCHOOL HARMFUL. In reply to the above, the grandmother •was advised to have the little girl kept away from sohool until she was seven years of age. Those who doubt the soundness of 4hie advice may be convinced by the following extract from a masterly article by T. C. Horsfall on "Health and Education," which appeared in the Contemporary Review for March, 1906: — "I now come to the power of the school to cause bad health", or to prevent good health; and again I must übb German statistics. The German child normally begins to go to school when it has completed its sixth year. In nearly all German towns the elementary schools are now under the charge of school doctors, one of whose duties it is to examine every child before it begins to go to school. If a child of six is in such a condition of health that the doctor believes that it ■will suffer from boginning school life, he defers its' entry into ft school for a year. The number of children who are thus caused to begin school life only on the completion of their seventh year is considerable. In some places as many as 10 per cent, of the children are thus treated. There are therefore a good many delicate children who spend their seventh year at home, and a much larger number of more robust children who spend their seventh year in school. Dr. SchmidMonnard found that going to school almost stopped the increase of weight in girls for a year, and much diminished their increase in height ; and that the more robust boys in Halle who spent their seventh year in school on an average increased 21 per cent, less in weight and 43 per cent, less in height than the more delicate boys who passed their seventh year at home." 26th September, 1910. I was pleased to receive the letter of the 18th September, and thankthe Society for the kind interest taken in little Annie's •welfare. I am glad to tell you she is in splendid health. We had her weighed this morning, and she weighs 3 stone, and her height is 3ft 9in. She has hard, plain food — not too much meat — boiled eggs, and plenty of new milk to drink. She has no pieces between meals, her teeth are sound j and white, and she masticates her food well. Three months ago she started _to suck her thumb. We thought her doing so prevented her enjoying her food as she otherwise would have done. Her father promised -her a bicycle if she left it off, which she did in a few days. She got her bicycle, and enjoys riding about on it. We are sure she enjoys her food better again now she has given up sucking her thumb. In response to a telegram of enquirytho following message has just been received from the grandmother: — 7th February, 1911. Your wire just to hand. I should have written before, but baye been laid up with p.leurisy and bronchitis, and am only just getting better. I am pleased to tell you little Annie is in splendid health. She still takes her cold bath every morning, and gets plenty of fresh air and exercise. In fact, she could not be better. They are away at the Bluff just now. I expect them back next Monday, when we will have her weighed, and I will let you know what her weight is now. P.S. — Annie will- bo six years old in May. I have advised them not to send her to school until she is seven.

The Feilding Star says that Hayward's Picture Show Proprietary have purchased a site in that township ilexfc to Bastie's Hotel on which to erect a building for cinematograph exhibitions. It is understood that the plans aro now in the hands of tha aichitects for a Brick Building, with gallery and sloping floor, to cost up to £2000. It is the intention of the company to use the building for picture shows only, and to have it occupied six nights in the jveek.