OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 78

OUR BABIES.

By Hygeia.

Published under the auspices of the Society for the Health of Women and Children. " It is wiser to put up a fence at the top oi a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at. the bottom.”

WHAT IS THE BEST FOR BABIES? In a couple of columns a, few weeks ago wo dealt with the'subject of Air. Just after the first article appeared the following letter was received, and we think the suggestion contained in it is worth following. Of course, if any subject of special importance to the work of the Society should crop up, it would be gone into at once; but meantime it may be helpful to our readers if wo amplify what is said in the Society's book, with regard to the “Essentials for Health ” LETTER. Your notes in this column are most interesting. I, with several friends, look for them regularly each week. We were wondering, unless your programme is prearranged, if you would bo so knd as to give an article each week on the “Twelve Essentials for a Baby’’—it is the first chapter in Dr Truby King’s bcok, “The Feeding and Care of Baby.” I see that the first essential —Fresh Air — is taken this week. ■ Hoping you will forgive us for taking this liberty. —Believe us to be, etc., Interested.

THE BEST SITE FOR A HOUSE, THE BEST AID, AND PLENTY OF SUNLIGHT, i We have m the Dornjnion no centre o£ population which is not reasonably healthy, though it wouid be possible to select almost anywhere a particular situation or house which would not be des.rahle. The main points for the health are the avoidance of a low-lying, damp situation, or one unauiy shaded by a steep hillside or by buddings or trees, etc. <jn the other hand, excessive exposure to pievailing winds without rcadiiy available shelter is undesirable, especially for babies, because it limits the time they can spend in the open air. Favour a site with the ground trending more or less northwards, not southwards. A free, open, porous soil is certainly best, but clay need not be feared' if there is ample drainage and the roads are good. In an ordinary house', where servants are not kept, the health of small children depends very much upon whether the room in winch most of the indoor life has to be spent looks towards the midday sun or directly away from it, as is commonly the case. The baby should be out of doors as much as possible, and when indoors during the daytime it should be in the lightest, brightest room in the house. In most cottages the reverse_ is the case. Mother and baby live in the kitchen, which is small, overheated, and looks southwards. An ample living-room, with a verandah looking north for. the baby to play on, is best The range or stove can be recessed. The mother who wants her baby to be healthy and to grow up to a vigorous maturity should give it as much fresh, cool air and sunshine as possible. PROBLEMS OF BABYHOOD. To emphasise further the paramount importance of outing and perfect purity of air, I cannot do better than quote the following admirable introduction to a book, “Problems of Babyhood,” written a few years ago by Dr Fitz, a professor of hygiene at Harvard University, and his wife. The book is dedicated— To those Parents who deem the Training of their Chh dren their Supreme Privilege and Duty, BUILDING A CONSTITUTION. FRESH AIR. One of the most important recent changes in medical practice is duo to the recognition of fresh, cold air. Hie modern treatment of consumption has proved most brilliantly that such air has the power of so far increasing the vigour and resistance of even the more sluggish tissues of the body as to enable them to combat and overcome disease already established in the system, when all other curative measures have failed. Persons who in their weakness had dreaded every change of temperature, had protected themselves religiously against every current of fresh air, had anxiously consulted the thermometer before trusting themselves out of doors, and had smothered themselves in heavy veils, lest they should take a full breath of undiluted cold air, have found themselves able almost immediately, even m the rigorous climate of an Eastern winter in the United States, to live out of doors during the day and to sleep at night in an unheated hut with one side open, verandahwise, to the weather. And the result Las been not death by cold nor yet a lingering decline, but health and resistance to disease through the physiological stimulation of the vital functions by judicious exposure. The sole conditions have been an abundance of simple food and bodily warmth through adequate woollen clothing. FOULED, WARM, MOIST, BREATH-LADEN AIR THE REAL POISON. The change of attitude on the part of physicians has of necessity affected the attitude of the laity. The generation which shuddered when it felt a cold draught, which dreaded the imaginary poison of the night wind, which entombed itself in closely-shut rooms, regardless of the actual active poison of its own breath, is, fortunately, passing away, and now, instead of the belief that only the strongest can stand fresh air, is the knowledge that the weakest cannot live with-

out it. This change of attitude brings us into sympathy with that Western plainsman who, when on a visit to the East, slung his hammock at night in the open When remonstrated with on the ground that his own father had previously slept in the very room now offered to him, ho answered with a smile, “Ah, but my father was a strong man !” PURE AIR ALL IN ALL FOR BABIES.

If the reconstructive value of fresh air in weakened and diseased bodies is so great, its constructive effect upon the developing constitution of the child during the period of most rapid growth can hardly bo over-estimated. By moans of this stimulation alone is each cell enabled to reach its maximum of effectiveness, and thus to contribute its full share in the

physiological co-operative economy of the human body. The building processes involved in the structural development of • the child require vigour of cell-action. The extreme failure of these processes is patently manifested in delayed teething, retarded development of the strengtn for walking, and the onset of mal-nutr.tional troubles, such as rickets and scurvy. The lessor degrees of failure arc habitually overlooked in almost every family and accepted as “natural” weakness. To prevent such failure, or to meet it if prevention is already impossible. a regime similar to that adopted in the treatment of consumption should be judiciously instituted. If the one essential of bodily warmth is judiciously ensured the timid mother may rest assured of the folly of her fears. Her poisoned and suffocated hot-houso plant of a Child will blossom into rugged vigour under the life-giving stimulus of pure air. After a three hours’ sleep in an outside window box in zero weather, a six months’ baby properly protected will come in with glowing cheeks and a body radiating warmth. N.B. —The reader must not forget that Dr and Mrs Fitz are speaking of their personal experience of babies in the United States, whefe the winter cold is infinitely more severe than in New Zealand. Seeing that American babies flourish in pure cold air, we may be sure ours would be safe and flourish also. As a matter of fact and experience, we know they do, whether at the Karitano Hospital in Otago or in the mother’s homo when pure cold air has free play. HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. The monthly meeting of the above society was held in the Town Hall on Friday; present—Mesdames Carr (in the chair)* King, Theomin, J. Ross, Gilkison, Marshall, Jackson, Sidcy, K. Ross, James Allen, K. S. Ramsay, Arundel, Gray, Cunninghame, Isaacs, Gibbs, Johnstone, Sim, and the hon. secretary (Mrs J. M'Gecrge). The Matron reported that the number of babies admitted was 7, discharged 9, death 1, mothers in residence 3, greatest number in residence at any one time 16 babies and 2 mothers, in residence on May 39 12, visitors during the month 255, letters written 48. Of the seven babies admitted during the month, five were from Dunedin, one from Mosgiel, and one from Christchurch. Their ages were as follow; —One 13 days, 2 two weeks, 1 four weeks, - six weeks, and 2 thirteen months. One baby two weeks old came from Forth Street Hospital—a promature baby, with deformed bands and feet. She was very ill indeed on admission, and lived only 2g days. All the other babies are progressing quite satisfactorily. The mother in residence is improving daily. The weekly talk and demonstration to mothers has, with one exception, been continued as usual, one week being given by Nurse Orton (in training). Dr Truby King gave a very interesting and instructive lecture to the nurses on May 25. Nurse Carter, who came here for six weeks’ training prior to taking up a position in the Wellington Hospital, left before finishing the term to prepare tor joining the army nursing service. Gifts as follow wore received: —Mr W. J. Dawson, 9 pairs blankets; Miss Wimperis, 3 babies’ singlets ; Nurses Christie and Allan, nightdresses and drosses for babies; Nurse Christie, new materials for baby clothing, alsd 1 11b white wool.

The Plunket Nurses report new eases for the month 49, number of babies on list 789, solely breast fed 67, partially breast fed 38, visits to homes 820, visits to Plunket room 200, letters written 8, letters received 11, bottles of humanised' milk sent out 7024. i A number of the older babies have required a good deal of supervision during the weaning and teething period. There is also a good deal of sickness —whooping cough, measles, and bronchitis being prevalent, —and although not visiting these cases, the nurses give a great deal of advice by telephone and letter. We are glad to note that mothers are realising the importance of using the scales for weighing before and after feeding, and so, by the only reliable method, ascertaining whether the proper amount of food is supplied. These scales can bo obtained on loan from the Plunket office, Liverpool street. The resignation of Miss Campbell as matron of the K. H. Hospital was accepted with much regret; Miss Campbell, as a member of the Army Nursing Service Corps, having been called upon to leave for active service. Miss Pattrick has accepted the position of acting matron in the meantime. Through the generosity of the Nelson branch, wo were enabled to offer the position to Nurse Morgan, at present Plunket nurse in that district. This offer has been accepted, and Nurse Morgan will take up the position early in July. Nurse Morgan having exceptional abilities as a lecturer, it is hoped that by her efforts in this direction the educational value of the society’s work will bo further extended. A very gratifying letter was received from the private secretary of his Excellency the Governor notifying that his Majesty the King has granted permission to incorporate the word “royal” in the society’s title. The committee expressed great appreciation of the distinction and honour thus bestowed on the society, and steps arc being taken to have the society registered under the new title.

Nurse Chappell (Plunkct nurse in Central Otago) wrote stating that she had been refused permission to give lessons in the public schools in that district, she having met with much success and appreciation in this phase of her work in the Rotorua district. Arrangements have been made for a deputation from the society to wait upon the Education Board at its next monthly meeting in reference to this matter. The following letter was received from the Bishop’s House, Madrasl have road in various places of the wonderfully good work which has been done in reducing infant mortality in Dunedin. I should be extremely grateful if you could send me a report after one is published of the work, as we are beginning the same thing here.” Mrs Sim and Mrs Gilkison have arranged to take charge of the society’s stand at Jacobs's Corner for the street collection to be taken un on Saturday, July 3, for the Wounded Otago Boys’ Fund_. It was decided to ask for contributions of cakes, sweets, jams, eto., to be sold at the stand. The’ office-bearers’ executive and subcommittees were appointed for the ensuing years, Mrs James Allen’s name being added to the executive. , Regarding Lady French’s appeal, Mrs Gibb reported that she has some 30 infant outfits almost complete and ready for shipment. There are large numbers of w'oollen knitted shirts in hand, and the articles most required at present ore cellular cotton shirts

and cotton crepe frocks. She acknowledges with thanks parcels from the following ladies: —Mesdames Tomlinson, T. K. Side.y, Nicholl, J. Wilson, Cargill, Colquhoun (3rd parcel), Miss Dunlop, G. F. S. (Mornington), Miss Carew, a Balclutha sympathiser, and Miss Dinecn.