CHILD WELFARE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 September 1924, Page 13

CHILD WELFARE.

BEGINNING OF THE WOHK. (By “S.” in the Sydney MorningHerald.) The widespread and wonderfully successful movement of to-day in Saving the Babies” owes its beginning, not to the example or call of a mighty nation, but to a little country village in France, just seventy years ago.' Unknown to the busy outside world for hundreds of years previously, its name leaped into- fame in one day; these simple farmers, happy in their sheep and cattle—their farms and the pride they took in their wonderful dairy produce—surely never expected to hold the-greatest and finest record any country ctiuld have—breaking the world’s record in the decrease of infant mortality. Villier-le-Duc was this pretty little village, resting among the hills overshadowed by the environs, of the great Ohatillon Forest, and its Mayor, the one, who, in 1854, woke his people to the need of stemming an alarming death-rate among their less than 12 months old babies. For over fifty years this mortality had been going on ,to the extent of about a quarter of the birthrate yearly! So what did this good man do? Called a meeting at which thev were brought suddenly face to face with the fact that though they were so' successful in their cattle and sheep raising they were not nearly so much so with their greatest need —the babies. He proposed a plan—they discussed it, and agreed to give it a good trial and follow his directions faithfully. They did, and that good citizen soon saw the unhappy vision of his beloved village disappearing, from the world vanish, happily year by year, as more and more babies were saved. Then, alas! he died; two other Mayors succeeded him—good Mayors certainly, but with the idea in their /heads that such a homely task as saving babies was not part of the important c-ivio duties of a Mayor! . Again the death-rate mounted alarmingly. Then once again a Morel—a. son of the first worthy Mayor—was elected to the chair, and he determined, knowing something of medicine, to carry on the good work, his father had commenced. This Paul Morel had served with distinction in the FrancoPrussian war, and, sic-k to death with the horror of “taking” life, he took up the study of medicine and hygiene, in order to help and fit himself for a scheme he had in mind for “saving” life. The Morels, by the way, lived in a lonely old chateau round which the village of Villier-le-I>uc yvas built, and for many years this old family of noble birth, had tiuly and genuinely interested themselves in all village matters. He propounded a scheme for these pqople of his of limited wealth and. knowledge, first of all announcing that “Mother’s milk is the. private property of her baby, and that one who deprives the baby of this possession is not only a thief, but a scoundrel!” . x His scheme ran thus: —(a) Every expectant mother, married or single, had a right to public assistance; (b) if .she reported her case before the seventh month a midwife would be provided, and, if necessary, a doctor (of her own choice, if she so -wished); both would attend her. till the baby was born, and the expense would be shared by the whole community; and lastly, if the mother would stay in bed and secure the necessary rest after baby’s birth, she would, if in needy circumstances, be paid a certain income. Solemnly binding themselves that every baby should have its mother’s milk—or in case of illness or death of the mother, should share with some more fortunate baby—that every baby would be weighed every two weeks at the Town Hall, and its weight written up in the village records; that’ any poor little soul stricken with respiratory disease or gastro intestinal trouble should be reported within 24 hours; so the good work began which was to hear fruit, and rouse the world to emulate this village’s example. No doctor resided in this . humble little village, therefore- a. good one attended twice a week from the nearest town ; his expenses were paid out of the public funds. Older children were encouraged to drink more milk—a campaign that i s being vigorously carried out in our public schools to-day, the milk was provided from cows kept specially clean and healthy under this Mayor's personal supervision, and sold to the kiddies at -such a low price that everyone could afford it. Tn spite of jealous opposition from higher quarters, he kept his records carefully, and at last took his statistics of habv life saved to the Academy of Medicine in France, and the Council „of State. His solendid work was recognised, and till bis death he was proud to recall the honour conferred on him —that of “The Father of the Children of the Commune.” The pivot round which bis whole life work in this campaign revolved was this: “The welfare of children and that of the community are inseparable.” “Mother love and instinct,” said he, “are not sufficient to overcome the ‘dangers’ of babvhood. but mother training and mother knowledge will.”