NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY With which is incorporated the NORTHERN MAIL DAILY THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1920. HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

Northern Advocate, 17 June 1920, Page 2

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY With which is incorporated the NORTHERN MAIL DAILY

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1920. HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper.

The care and training of children aro matters of supreme importance, and it is not too much to say that the nation which pays strictest attention to the general welfare of its children is the nation which will become the strongest in the world. The character of the race is built up in the homes and the schools, but character depends to a very largo extent upon the treatment given to the child in its ten•lercst years. Dr. Wilkins, addressing a meeting in Hawera recently said: "The problem of infant health is not a medical problem of infancy, but a social problem of motherhood. It did not," he said, "necessarily require doctors or scientists to solve this great problem— .he people could do it themselves —it was largely a, matter of maternal environment. In school children it had been found tnat the cause of deformed chests, etc., had been traced to their having been bottlefed and fed on patent foods. . . . In the present day the. tendency was- to give a child too much soft food, although porridge was a good thing. Most of the nasal, throat, and ear troubles were due to bot-tle-feeding. He looked forward to the day when it would be illegal for that awful thing the 'dummy' and the 'long tube' feeder to be brought into the country, for these two articles were the beginning of the causes of an enormous amount of the children's troubles."

The "Hawera Star," commenting on his remarks says: "Wo supose that it is due to the stupid ideas of modern society, but there has grown up among largo sections of people an unnatural and unreasonable attitude towards maternity. The most sacred gift to mankind is the power of reproduction of human life; and the highest and most noble work of woman is the upbringing of children, for upon the proper perform- . ance of maternal duties depend the strength and vigor of the race. So noble a duty is it that it is remarkable to find that any mother should sock to evade it-or try to escape from functions to which modern society for its own peculiar reasons may object. Artificial food, even though it be the result of tho most careful analysis and thought by the most' able scientists, can never take the place of the food which Nature in her wisdom has provided. Surely the Divine duties and functions of motherhood are too bacred to be tampered with or to be lightly put aside because they interfere perhaps with social engagements and pleasures. The great work entrusted to mothers should be far too noble, far too import ant, for them to allow anything to interfere with or interrupt it, and we are very glad indeed that Dr. Wilkins made his facts so clear. With him we heartily agree that that 'awful thing the dummy and the long-tube feeder' should be prohibited. The 'dummy' is well named; its evil results certainly help to make children dummies, for to its use can be traced many of the diseases which affect children, stunt their growth and development, and .'.ower their vitality and intelligence. The first five years of a child's life are so very important that people should take the greatest care to 1 ensure that they avoid all possible dan-, gcrs to their children. The Plunket Society is ■ever ready to help mothers with advice based upon the reports of investigations by most capable doctors mid scientists, and parents have really no excuse who may plead ignorance of their duties and responsibilities. So important is the work of the Society that we hope people will not let it want for support. The Government is at present preparing important plans for the medical and dental attention of school children, and we hope that after mothers have carried out their part of i tho work thoroughly children when they enter the school will be carefully guarded by medical and dental inspectors from the many dangers to health which until recent years were not combate.d. For the welfare of each child and the whole nation too much cap cannot be taken, but there needs to be thorough and ready co-operation in the work between parents and those who are the children's guardians in the schools.'' At the last meeting of the Whangarei School Committee a suggestion was put forward that hot cocoa be provided for those children who oat their lunch at school. It is sincerely to be hoped that the suggestion will not end in talk, and if outside help is necessary we are certain that, it will be forthcoming from ,

scores of parents, but if the committee intends to act it should do so at once, for it is positively detrimental to health for children to sit day after day in a. cold atmosphere without some bloodwarming drink at midday. The days are quite cold now and will probably continue so for several months.