SAVING THE BABIES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 93, 21 April 1908, Page 3

SAVING THE BABIES.

LOSS OF 16,000 IN TEN YEARS

The following manifesto has been issued by the Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children in connection with an appeal for further funds:— In New Zealand, during the last ten years,, some 16,000 babies have diedv It is safe to say that more than half these babies would have lived if they had been properly fed and tended. , For one baby killed by intentional cruelty or neglect, a hundred perish through mere ignorance.

WHAT 'ABOUT THE 250,000 SURVIVORS?

Leading authorities agree that the death-toll among babies is quite an insignificant evil compared with the stunting or maiming for life of the majority of those who survive. For one baby who dies from improper feeding, etc., a dozen are more or less seriously damaged, and- grow up with defective health, feeble digestion, and weakened frames. (See Dental Reports, Reports of Commission and Physical Degeneration, etc.)

WHAT. HAS THE SOCIETY DONE TO HELP THE MOTHERS AND SAVE THE BABIES? (1) It has strenuously advocated the natural feeding of infants. (2) Where this was impossible it has advocated and provided the bestknown substitute for mother's milk— namely, properly modified cow's milk. This has been done in Dunedin with the co-operation of the Taeiri and Peninsula Dairy Company, which has aided us by establishing a, special department for the preparation and distribution of humanised milk, worked by Nurse M'Kinnon and her assistants. The leading authorities of the medical profession recognise that this food is the only artificial product which approaches the ideal of conforming to the standard of breast milk. There is nothing in the field to compare with it; but, unfortunately, the price of factory-made humanised milk is prohibitive at Home and in America, except for the comparative well-to-do. In Boston the cost of feeding a baby on scientifically prepared humanised milk is found, to average half-a-crown a day. In Dunedin, on the other hand, the average expense is little over half-a-crown a week. The resources of the Taieri Company are practically given in. lhus, the one reason for not using ready-made humanised milk on longer exists here, is no other city in the world m which there exists anything hke the facilities which now obtain m Dunedin for safely and economif4u7 rearing babies that must be artificially fed. The Society has enabled, the use of humanised milk to become general throughout the Dominion by issuinoinstructions for its easy preparationin the home, together with full information as to how the milk should be kept and administered.

(3) It has disseminated accurate information affecting the health of mothers and children by means of lectures, pamphlets, correspondence, and otherwise. The answers given in the Press form only a minute fraction of the correspondence involved, nearly ail -the letters coming from mothers in

every part of the Dominion having so far been answered direct owing to restricted space. Judging by the exceedingly grateful letters which come from all quarters, there is no feature of the Society's work that is doing more good or is more appreciated, especially in remote districts beyond the reach of doctors and nurses.

Lectures and demonstrations by members of the Dunedin Society and Nurse M'Kinnon have been given not only in Otago, but also in various centres of Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland.

(4) It has provided for the analysis of any specimen of milk sent, whether human or prepared, thus ensuring the mother against continuing la use food markedly wrong in any ingredient, and indicating what correction should be made.

(5) It has provided nurses ready at any time to give advice and instruction to mothers in the home or elsewhere, with a view to conserving the health and strength _ of the rising generation, and rendering both mother and offspring hardy and healthy, and resistive to disease. (6) The Society undertook at its inception eleven months ago to endeavour to promote certain legislative rdforms. These duly came to pass last session in connection with the Infant Life Protection Act and the new Customs tariff—namely: Prompt registration of birth, improved care of "Babies in licensed homes, and the removal of duty from sugar of milk. In connection with the baby move^ ment a ton and a quarter of sugar of milk was imported and sold retail, duty paid, at Is 3d alb., instead of 2s 6d, as formerly, and the remission of duty has brought about a further reduction of Is alb—thus bringing this food material, which is essential for the health of bottle-fed babies within the rteach of everyone. The expenses of two deputations to Wellington in the above connection were borne solely by the deputies, no expenses being charged against the society^ (7) The society has co-operated with organisations which are working for "the foregoing or cognate objects, such as the Society for the protection _of Women and Children, the Salvation Army, etc.

The recent joint action in connection with the Garrick case shows how effectively the interests of waifs can be safeguarded by judicious co-opera-tion.

baby hospital in the Dominion. From 12 to 18 infants at a time have been under care. The object of the society is to take in babies of any class who have got into a bad way, and cannot be set right in their own homes, and to return them to their parents or guardians, usually within a few weeks under the charge of a nurse, who advises as to the further care and attention needed, antl revisits the home from time to time to see that all goes well.

TRAINING-SCHOOL FOR MOTHERS.

The Karitane Home is also a train-ing-school for mothers and nurses, weekly lectures and practical demonstrations being givenl on all matters concerning the baby. All nurses coming under Lady Plunket's scheme are to have special training at the Karitane Home and in Dunedin.

ASSISTANCE IN-FEEDING BABIES

To the Salvation Army, to licensed homes, and to some destitute mothers, humanised milk has been supplied at less, that the price of ordinary milk, and in seme cases free. The burden of this has been generously borne mainly by the Taieri and Peninsula Dairy Company. Indeed, in all directions the funds of the society have been spared as far as possible by work and material given by the public and by members of the committee.

WHAT LADY PLUNKET SATS

Her Excellency says:—"Our nurse is not solely for the poor. Her knowledge and experience"can be taken advantage of by any mothers, whether their incomes be large or small. For not only will she take the place of a good-natured neighbour or the experienced 'mother of 14' (10 of whom she has buried), but she can be called in to give; the advice which a .trained and experienced English head nurse pos-^ sesses—-a class of servant which is very difficult to obtain in the colonies." . . . . h

"The successful establishment of the society throughout the Dominion means endless anxiety and suffering spared; it means a decrease in the appalling infant death-rate; and ' it means more and healthier children for New Zealand and the Empire." \need of support and :. . . funds.

The society hopes to receive the hearty support of parents throughout the community to enable it to vigorously pursue its work, for which fundc are urgently needed.