OBSTETRICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20473, 30 July 1928, Page 11

OBSTETRICS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July ID. The women of New South Wales are planning a big drive for obstetric reform. The fact, established by unassailable figures, that maternal mortality in the mother State, and, indeed, in the Commonwealth as a whole was greater last year than for any of the preceding 20 years, has come as a shock to the womenfolk. That the Governments have been inert and half-hearted over this profoundly important subject, is beyond question. The average value of an Australian, 21 years of age, has been worked out statistically at about £2OOO in hard cash. Some, of course, are worth more; quite a lot arc worth less. This, however, is the average. But, as has been pointed out by the leader in the fight for obstetric reform, Dr A. Watson Munro, the value of each mother is beyond calculation. She is priceless. Dr Watson Munro, whose circumstances enable him to live in retirement is the most outspoken of New South medical men. His is the rapier thiust on this question, irrespective of whom he offends. His attitude, in effect, is that something will be done about obstetrics when one is able to drive into politicians’ heads the fact that mothers and infants are Australia’s most valuable assets, socially, spiritually, economically, and from every other standpoint.