INFANT MORTALITY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 75, 10 March 1933, Page 5

INFANT MORTALITY

RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA.

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. After two years of research at the Baker Institute at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Dr. W. J. Penfold, the director of the institute, and Hiss Mildred Butler, his assistant, say they believe that they have discovered hitherto unknown causes of infant mortality. It is claimed, further, that these causes are preventiblc. The process of the research and the conclusions reached will be revealed in a paper to be read at the Alfred Hospital before a number of prominent medical men and scientists on February 28. The work of Dr. Penfold and Miss Butler opens a new field of medical inquiry, and one which is of considerable importance. It was inspired by the fact that, although there has been a rapid fall in infantile mortality in the first year after birth, deaths at the pre-natal and post-natal stage have not diminished. It was regarded as evident that unknown causes were at work —causes that were not entirely due to physical reasons—causes that could be controlled. With this contention in view Dr. Penfold and Miss Butler commenced a bacteriological investigation upon internal organs. This is said to have revealed one of the causes of infantile mortality not hitherto suspected. Investigations continued with a view to protecting the infant before birth and during the dangerous stage a few days after birth, when a great number of deaths take place. When a child has survived for 12 months its ch: :;. cs

of life are greatly increased, and it is to this period that so many other specialists have turned their attention from time to time. The work at the Baker Institute is intended as complementary to the already accepted methods for the treatment of very young children. Dr. Penfold has been unwilling to make a premature revelation of his discoveries, and doctors and others are awaiting the official announcement with a great deal of interest. In view of the work already done by the institute it has come as a shock to learn that the place must be closed almost immediately owing to a lack of funds. Research institutions are few and far between in Australia, and the Baker Institute, which was founded by the late Mr Thomas Baker, has done valuable work. It has a highly-special-ised staff, but as its funds are dependent upon industrial investments it is unable to carry on unless some way out of the difficulty is found. The disintegration of the staff will be a severe blow to research work in Australia.