OUR BABIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11382, 6 December 1930, Page 10

OUR BABIES.

(By Hygeia.J Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunkefc Society), ‘lt is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a. precipice than to maintain an ambulance at tho bottom.”

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF

MENTAL HEALTH

Hie' following .summary is the con

elusion / of, our • extracts from Dr, Arnold GeselPs paper on mental hyg/iene:—

“What, then, aro the- mental health characteristics of the young child?’ In summary they are as follows ;

“1. Wholesome habits of eating .and sleeping, of. relaxation, and of .elimination. These are often regarded: as ‘purely: physical’ matters. Actually they, are of-basic psychological importance. They are ways of living; they require a. proper organisation of-the .nervous system. The 'child who is not well trained in these •everyday habits has not learned even i the first' letters. <of' the alphabet of nervous;or mental health. 2.- Wholesome habits of feeling. Here again we deal with the organisation of tho nervous system. Mental hygiene is much concerned with •.the organisation of the emotional 'life. Happily, tho feel ings respond to training. It is all wrong to think that temper tantrums, morbid fears, •timidity jealousy, sensitiveness, suspiciousness and other unhealthy mental states are beyond control.

“The thoroughly normal child has positive emotional, hahituations which .Vnake for good .nature, for sociability, for self-control oven a measure of sympathy.and.eo-operativeness. Consistent training; and a favorable home atmosphere, brihg under the .spell of .socialised-goodwill. Through praise rather than scolding, through encouragement rather than domination, through happiness rather than failure, he acquires an elementary optimistic philosophy of life. He acquires also a sense of security whi"b •‘is very important.' for his health of Onind.

“In this way'lie mat also acquire a philosophic sense of humor, which can lie set down as one of the prime essentials "of normal mental health. This sense of humor will servo htfn well, oven as a, child, and still more as an adult. “J. Healthy attitudes of action. Self-reliance is a. cardinal virtue: in the code of mental health. Growing Tip in the psychological sense means attaining sufficient stamina, to meet the demands of life squarely on one’s •own resources. It. is a steady prodess of detachment—first from the apron strings, later from the homo itself.

“Just as the grown-up soldier needs .morale t 6 stand the test- of battle, iso the young child nrfcds a. kind cf self-reliance which will enable him fo meet the realities and discomforts of life. The ability to <<oo reality is, of icourse, a mark of mental health. Therefore, the wise parent from the beginning builds fibre as well as happiness into the child's mind.

‘'‘Normality of mind can therefore be formulated in terms of:—

(1) 'Wholesome personal habits of living. (2) Wholesome habits of feeling. and (3) Healthy atttitudos of action. “Although these are broad specifications, it is apparent that they may be made very concrete in actual application. The goal of mental hygiene ceases to be nebulous .when we make a, genuine attempt to realise it in terms of child guidance and parent guidance.”

'Remedy worse than tho disease.” —Beaumont.

Only too often are medicines describable by sncH an apt quotation. Yet Baxter's Lung Preserver is as pleasant: to; take as: it id effective in action. Soothes -and remedies coughs and colds frpm the very, .first dofio, while its tonic properties tono up the system against; a relapse. Now obtainable 'with -a new screw cap which preserves the contents. All chemists- ancl stores. We recommend the largo, family size at. 4,4 JkWifi if) more economical. Smaller sizes 2s Od and Is 6d. -;;V. • .-.'v : A

Standing. on a gold stand 22in in diameter,, the , coronation, cake for .Ras Tafari, Emperor of Ethiopia, was sft high, arid weighed mure than a hundredweight (writes a London correspondent). Before being forwarded to Abyssinia it was to bo seen at the Diplomatic Service Headquarters in London,. JL was, made in three tiers, and on the top, one, stood;a beautifully fashioned dome : supported by Corinthian'pillars and topped with an Ethiopian lion ;.and t . other.' allegorical ‘figures, On. ono-side; of the .largest ffiop Was a hand-painted', .portrait... of the Emperor, and.on/the .other, a greeting in' his; native' language/,