THE SAVING OF CHILD LIFE

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 142, 18 June 1919, Page 14

THE SAVING OF CHILD LIFE

Some Appalling Figures.

The world to?day is rapidly waking up to the necessity of making an effort to end the present appalling waste of child life. The falling birth-rate .in some parts of the United Kingdom is lower than in France. Fifty years ago the birth-rato of the United Kingdom was 35 per 1000 of the population, but as figures prove, there were 100,000 fewer babies in 1915 than in 1914, and in 1916 29,000 fewer than in 1915. Tho excess of births over deaths in the United Kingdom in 1915 was only 252,----201, therefore it will bo seen that it is only a matter of time until our race is supplanted by another, unless the problem is grappled -with promptly. Another astounding fact is that in 1915 95,608 infants died and were buried in the United Kingdom before attaining the ago of one year. Experts admit that infant mortality might be greatly reduced by proper feeding, and -very little clear thinking is required to enable us to decide what steps should be taken to increaso both the health and wealth of the Empire. Obviously to start with, every effort should be made to save infant life, and to rear, in the difficult years before us, the largest possible number of children, likely in due time to develop into efficient.and patriotic citizens. We have time and again been reminded that the man who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before is a public benefactor, but no benedictions have yet been showered on health visitors and others who, by : saving infant lives, are doing something to meet our huge war losses. In this connection we would like to direct the attention of all concerned to the need of a pure and reliable milk' supply, particularly in the larger centres of population, where very often the lacteal fluid is many hours old before reaching the consumer, and totally unfit for child consumption. It !is interesting to read what Professor Houston has to say in a paper read by him before the Butter Control Commission at Home in 1917. The scarcity of milk, he says, during the winter months, gets dangerously low in many towns and cities, and this prolonged shortage forces public attention upon the utility of dried milk as a substitute for fresh milk, especially for infant feeding. Medical authorities on hygienic milk assert than dried milk properly prepared is not in any way inferior to fresh milk taken direct from the. pail. Many samples of dried milks were submitted to Professor Houston for analysis and report, and he goes on to say that the brand known as Glaxo came nearest to the type which, in his judgment, could bo taken as the standard. When all, the emulsions were critically compared, this type of preparation has an appearance and taste more closely resembling boiled fresh milk than any other samples. submitted to him. In this country where'summer and winter milk supplies differ so .'widely in quantity, dried milk offered a means of equalising its seasonable distribution. Glaxo, as manufactured by Messrs. Joseph Nathan and Company, Ltd., has also been pronounced by doctors and other experts to bo air ad-, mirable infant food, entirely freed in its process of manufacture from all deleterious and poisonous' substances, and so closely resembling mother's milk as to make it a more reliable and nourishing substitute than even freshly-drawn cows' milk.

Visitors to the National Dairy Show now in progress at Palrnerston North will be able to test the quality of Glaxo, for Messrs. Nathan and Co. are making an extensive, display of this famous brand of dried milk, which should be utilised by every family resident in cities.and towns where the alleged fresh milk supply cannot at any season of the year be relied upon, especially for infant feeding. Glaxo is now obtainable in every town and district in New Zealand. It is manufactured solely by Messrs. Joseph Nathan and Co., Ltd., at Bunnythorpe, Te Aroha, Hamilton, Hawkes Bay, and in all the more important dairying centres of New Zealand, and the firm, in order to produce a sound, wholesome, honest product, insists on all suppliers exercising extreme care in ,their milking operations. Strict supervision is exercised in this respect. For the manufacture of Glaxo, the milk must be sweet, pure, and unskimmed, and every precaution taken to prevent bacterial contamination. Clean milking, immediate cooling, and early delivery are three essentials that the firm's suppliers are compelled to observe.