PLUNKET SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 16677, 8 March 1918, Page 4

PLUNKET SOCIETY

The monthly meeting of the committee was held in the Plunkct Rooms at 10.50 a.m. to-day. Present: Mrs Carr (in the chair), Mesdamcs King, Theomin, Moore, Cunninghamo. Jos. M‘George, Arundel. Malcolm, Aiken, Wilkinson, Sidey, Gallaway, John Ross, Isaacs, Johnstone, Jackson. Kenneth Ross Misses M’Dougall, Joachim, Gow, and the secretary. The matron of the Karitane-Harris Hospital reports for the month of February as under:—Humber admitted during the month —babies 15, mothers 1 —14; number discharged during the month — babies 10, mother 1—11; number of deaths, 1; number of mothers in residence, 2; greatest number in residence at any one time, 16 ; number in on February 28 —mothers 1, babies 15—16; number of visitors, 275; number of letters written, 28. Of the mothers and babies admitted during the month, one came from Waimato, two from Middlomarch, one from Greenvale, one from Awamangu, one from Kakapuaka, and the remainder from Dunedin. One death occurred ■ during the month, duo to prematurity, and occurring a few hours after admission to the hospital. All babies discharged were making good progress. Clifts were received ami acknowledged during the month from the following:—Mesdamcs Johnstone, Scorgic, Joachim, Kirkland, Ruff, and Miss Barron. Xumbor of nurses in training on February 28Plunkct nurses, 8: Karitano nurses, 11. Karitane Nurses Ruddock and Lewis commenced their 12 months’ course of training during the month. All the babies in hospital with one exception arc making satisfactory progress. | The Plunkct mirees for the north and central districts report for February ; Xmnber of babies on the list, 753 ; number of new babies for tho month. 2-5; number of babies solely breast-fed, 126; number of babies partly breast-fed, 70; number of expectant mothers on the list, 15 ; number of mothers making humanised milk in their own homes, 135; number of mothers shown how to make humanised milk, 12 ; number of visits paid to homes. I 416; number of visits to office. Stuart j street—adults 115. babies 90 number of I bottles of humanised milk sent out from the Taieri Dairy, 4,845. Tho Plunkct nurse for tho South Dunedin district reports a-s follows:—number of now cases during the month, 22 (babies 17. expectant mothers 6) ; number of babies on the list, 529 ; number of babies j wholly breast-fed, 46; number of Rallies partly breast-fed, 18; number o7 mothers shown how to moke humanised milk, 6; number of visits paid to homos, 255; number of adult? to rooms, King Edward street, 115: number of babies to rooms, King Edward street, 100. A letter was received from the Australian Womens National League expressing

appreciation of the society'.-; -work, and asking for assistance. in organising a. “ Rave, the Rabies Week” in. Melbourne, The secretary reported having forwarded copies of tiro libwaturn publislid during ‘.he Dominion “Baby Week.” -and full particulars

and details of the local campaign. Letters were also received from Ihe Kimberley Society for Pjotcction of Child Life (South Africa) and the. National Young Womens Christian Association of India, and Ceylon, asking for details of the society’s organisation ; also a letter from the Children’s Welfare Association, Melbourne, inviting a <lelouute from t’h-? society l-o -altovui an Interstate Child Welfare Conference, to commence on 18th November, 1918. , An interesting Idler was read from Dr Tniby King from San Francisco. A telegram awaited Dr King on arrival at Vancouver, asking for the date of his arrival at Chicago,, so that arrangements could im made for a meeting. The doctor write,; that- he has hern cordially received by all health .authorities, end great interest has. been everywhere evinced in Die .society’s work. “It was all most interesting, and they want everything wo can give them in tho way of our literature and propaganda.” Mrs R. W. Gibbs reported that a box of baby clothes would be packed during tb.c coming week in connection with Lady ■French’s appeal, to be sent, to the care of the High Commissioner for New Zealand for distribution to soldiers’ wives by the Women’s War Service Bureau. Mrs Uihns would be glad to receive any contributions toward? the box as soon as nos mole. It was decided to accept the tender of Robert Crawford and Co. for tho erection of the cottage addition to the Karilane Hospital. Arrangements were made, to help in the Red Triangle street collection. Nurse W. S.'Thomson (acting matron at the Karitaue-Havns Hospital ) wa-s appointed senior Rlnnket nurse m Dunedin. Nurso L- G. Moreland was appointed matron of tho hospital from April 1. The shortage of bottle,.; used in sending out humanised milk from tho I. and R. dairy is causing serious inconvenience, and tho'committee'would be glad if all customers would make a point of seeing that these bottles arc returned without delay to the dairy. Tho matron of the Karitano Hospital would be very grateful for donations of old linen. Parcels may bo left at tho ■Rlnnket office or with Messrs Johnstone and Haslett. Tho linn, treasurer reported the maintenance. for tho month, £47 Is ICd; also the receipt of a number of subscriptions and donations.