INFANT DEATH RATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21225, 4 July 1932, Page 11

INFANT DEATH RATE.

NEW ZEALAND'S RECORD. "EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD." " This astounding result that is the envy of, and example for, the rest of the world, is one for sincerest congratulation," said Professor J. B. Dawson, professor of obstetrics at the Otago University, in an address at the annual meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Plunket Society. This remark was made after he had stated that the infantile death rate in New Zealand in 1907 was .80 per 1000 births, and in 1930 it had been reduced to .34 per 1000 births. In the course of further remarks Professor Dawson said:—"l am certain that in order to lower the infantile death rate in the first month of life, attention must be mainly directed to the mother. I consider the development of this work to be the greatest advance made by medicine in this country. It is a manifestation of the truest and most valuable form of science, that of prevention; an effort to prevent rather than to cure.

" Efficient ante-natal -work can only be carried out by a doctor, and one well trained and interested in the work. This, I am afraid, is tantamount to saying that the ante-natal work carried out by the Plunket nurses is not efficient. I would rather say it is incomplete, as I would not disparage their work or underrate the value of the advice they give, realising that they forward such excellent reports to the patient's doctor.

" This work is all to the good, but from my point of view it is inadequate to check the inroads made upon the lives of women and children. I am opposed to the creation of ante-natal clinics except in connection with the maternity hospitals. The essential of satisfactory ante-natal work is that it should be done by those responsible for the future confinement of the patient."