MOTHERCRAFT TRAINING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 16

MOTHERCRAFT TRAINING

SOCIETY IN ENGLAND (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, July 10. Another successful year was reported by the Mothercraft Training Society (Babies of the Empire), which was founded by the late Sir Truby King, at the annual meeting at Cromwell House, Highgate, this week. Lady Galway, chairman of the Executive Committee, presided. There are eight branches of the society in England, those.in addition to Highgate being at Earl's Court, Kingston-on-Thames, Cardiff, . Carbridge, Brighton, Newport, and Oxford. Total attendances at all branches was 45.000 for the year, and over 4000 new cases were dealt with. In addition to the care of infants, a large number of nurses are trained eve'ry year, including, during the past 12 months, New Zealanders arid Australians. Lady Gaiway told the meeting that, at a recent conference dealing with the breast feeding of children, the view had been expressed that medical institutions should be "in direct communication with centres such as those of the society. Dr R. C. Jewesburj;, the honorary medical director, said 'that the steadv progress recorded during the year was a record of which Cromwell House and the other branches might well be proud. A memorial to the late MiS3 A. Patrick (Christchurch), "that great worker," had taken the form of a cubicle at Cromwell House. "I can assure you all that it will be a most useful tribute to her memory," Dr Jewesbury added. Ever since separate cubicles had been introduced infection had been reduced to a mi.iiraum.

Although some doubt had recently been expressed in medical journj'.s that breast feeding was on the decline, the experience of the society did .iot support that idea. There was no doubt that the chief cause of failure to breast feed was ignorance, and it. was iLe main function of their centres to overcome that. Efforts in that directive had been highly successful. Sir Edward Peacock, the honorary treasurer, regretted that Cromwell House had not paid its way again last year. The excess of expenditure ovar income had been £145. Other brancheb had paid their way. It was feared th-at a further loss might be caused during the coming year by some readjustment of the arrangement regarding New Zealand cream. The matter would have to receive attention.