OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 52

OUR BABIES.

Bt Htqzta,

Publisher) under tno auspices of the Royal Nfw Zealand Society lor the Health •I Women and Children.

"It is wiser to put up. a fenea at the top of a precipice than ts maintain an ambulance at the bottom."

LETTERS OP A GRANDMOTHER. (Continued.) " September 4, 1908. "I am pleased to tell you that little Annie is still keeping well and getting on satisfactorily. You would hardly know her for the same child you saw in Dunedin. She is never still long together; she plays and romps about, and sings and dances. Sho lives regularly, goes to bed at the appointed time, rising and' taking her meals . at appointed hours. _ She sleeps well, and will now take anything that is going, and enjoys her food. _ She likes her bath, and, if the weather is such that she cannot go for a run directly after, Lizzie romps about with her until she gets warm. She is warmly but lightly clad, her under garments being of silk and wool. She went with bare feet until May, when I spoke to you about that, and you said she could wear warm socks and good boots during the coldest weather. She is now living in O— —n. She can walk down town past the station and back without complaining of being tired (poor wee mite; when she first came down she could not walk at all); she trots and jumps pearly all the way. I often wonder she is not tired out. She is now three years_ and three months old. We had her weighed yesterday, and her weight was 3451 b. I am very much pleased to hear of the success of the Baby Home in Dunedin, and true* the Society will long continue the good work." " December 21, 1903.

" I thought I would send a line to let you know how little Annie is getting on. She is keeping in splendid health, and still gaining in weight. She takes her cold ba'th, and quite enjoys it. She will now take any food that is placed before her, and is scarcely ever still. Sometimes I think she is too active, but she is in splendid health."

"February 7,1909.

" I am sure that you will be pleased to hear that little Annie is keepipg splendid. She still has her cold bath and run round after it."

_ " July 11, 1909. " Little Annie is still in splendid health. We had her weighed on Friday last, and her weight is 39J.15."

" November 5,1909.

" I am writing n. lino to tell you how well little Annie ie keeping. She is simply in splendid health. She takes her cold bath, and it seems almost incredible that she can be the same child you did so much for two years ago. I trust the Society may long continue the good work among the little ones."

"January 7. 1910. "Annie is still in splendid health." "May 1, 1910.

" I am sure you will be pleased to hear that little Annie is still in splendid health ; she will bo five years old this month. I was telling my son I thought it would be advisable not to send her to school until she is seven. If not troubling you too much. I should like your opinion" on the matter. I should have written before to lot you know- how the little thing is getting oYi.'but have been ill myself." Eap.lt Schooling Harmful.

In reply to the above, the grandmother was advised to have the little girl kept awav from school until she was seven years of age. Those who doubt the soundness of this advice may be convinced by the following extract from a maeterlv article by T. C. Horsfall on "Health and Education," which appeared in the Contemporary Review for March, 1906: " I now come to the power of the school to cause bad health, or to prevent good health; and again I must use German statistics. The German child normally begins to go to school when it has completed it= sixth vear. In nearly all German towns the elementary schools are now under the charge of school doctors, one of whoso duties it is to examine every child before it begins to go to school. If a child of six is in euoh a condition of health that the doctor believes that it will suffer from beginning school life, he defers its entry into a school for a year. Hie number of children who are thus caused to begin school life only on the completion of their seventh year is considerable. In some places as many as 10 per cent, of the children are thus treated. There are, therefore, a good many delicate children

who spond their seventh year at home, and a much larger number of more robust children who spend their seventh vear in school. Dr Schmid-Monard found that going to school almost stopped the incrcaso of weight in girls for a year, and much diminished their increase in height, and that the more robust boys in Halle who spent their seventh year in school on an average increased 21 per cent, less in weight and per cent, less in height than the more delicate boys who passed their seventh year at home."

" September 26, 1910. " I was pleased to receive the letter of the 18th September, and thank tho Society for tho kind interest taken in little Annie's welfare. I am glad to tell you she is in solendid health. Wo had her weighed this morning, and she weighs 3st, and her height is 3ft 9in. She has hard, plain food —not too much meat, —boiled eggs, and plenty of now milk to drink. She has no pieces between meals; her teeth are sound and white, and she masticates her food well. Three months ago she started to suck her thumb. We thought her doing so prevented her enjoying her food as she otherwise would have done. Her father promised her a bicycle if she left it off, which she did in a few days. She got her bicycle, and enjoys riding about on it. Wo are sure she enjoys her food better again now she has given up sucking her thumb." In response to a telegram of inquiry tho following message was received from tho grandmother:

"February 7, 1911. "Your wire just to hand. I should have written before, but» have been laid up with pleurisy and bronchitis., and am only just getting better. I am pleased to tell you little Annie is in splendid health. She still take 9 her cold bath every morning, and gets plenty of freeh air and exercise—in fact, she could not be better. They are away at the Bluff just now. I expect them back next Monday, when we will have her weighed, and I will let you know what her weight is now. " P.S.—Annie will be six years old in May. I have advised them not to her to school until she is seven."

"February 14, 1911. . " Little Annie returned home on Monday. She is in splendid health, and weighs 3st lib." Three stone one pound is the average weight for a girl of six years. Annie will be six some months hence. HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY. The City Council Chamber was crowded on the 7th inst. by those interested in the Society for Promoting 'the Health of Women and Children. It was the eleventh meeting of the society, and the large gathering was presided over by Dr Chanrptaloup. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, referred to the growth and extension of the work of the society. It was not many years ago that its activities had been confined to Dunedin alone; whereas now there were 73 centres of activity throughout New Zealand. He referred to it having made its influence felt in Great Britain, South Africa, Canada, India, Australia, and the United States. The Rev. R. S. Gray seconded the motion, and emphasised the fact that there had never been a time when the work of the society was more urgently required. The future would not be decided in the markets of the world, but by the people with the strongest morale. The nations that would be supreme would be those that had the highest morality. There must be a strong body as a basis for the mind to work on. The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education) congratulated the society on the magnificent work it had done and the magnificent- results achieved. He was very much interested in the question of health, because health was essential in education. He saw a great deal of evidence, by reason of his supervision of the children received into industrial schools, of parental ignoranco and neglect and indifference, and he was desirous of doing everything he could to prevent what he regarded as a national loss. Whatever our political creed was, it ought to be our resolve to see that those who in a few years would take our place were even better equipped than we were—■ that they should not, by reason of neglect or ignorance, suffer irreparable injury at birth or during infancy. It was necessary to see that they were born well, reared well, and educated well. We boasted about the money we spent in developing • the resources of the country, but the greatest asset was its citizens, and we should not grudge money to raise our boys and girls to a noble maturity. While our teachers were doing excellent work in training the young, it was attempted to place on the teacher much work that ought to be done in the home. When home and home life went a nation went, and he thought we wanted to direct our attention to restoring to some extent the influence that had been exercised in years past in the home. There was evidence, he regretted to say, that showed a want of parental control, ignorance, and indifference. Some men training their racehorses took more trouble over them than they did over the training of their children. The work the society was doing was a shining example of patriotism, and if there had ever been a call for such work it was now. It was a question of preserving our race, and we had to begin with our young. The motion was carried. Mr F. G. Cumming moved the election of the following office-bearers:—President, Mrs F. H. Carr; vice-presidents—Lady Allen, Mesdames Jos. M'George, Gallavvay, Moore, Sidoy, John Ross, and J. A. Johnstone • committee—Mesdames Aiken, Sydney Allen, Ansell-Hodson, Arundel, Jas. Begg, Champtaloup, Cunninghame, Dunlop, Gibbs, Isaacs, Jackson, J. C. M'George, Malcolm, K. Ross, Sim, Solomon, Professor Boys-Smith, Misses Gow, Joachim, M'Dougall, Ralston, Stewart, and Staffcaptain Park; Advisory Board—Dr Truby King, C.M.G., Messrs T. K. Sidey, M.P., Peter Barr, P. R. Sargood, G. R. Ritchie, and Leslie Han-is; hon. surgeon, Dr Barnett; bon. bacteriologist, Dr Champtaloup; hon. analyst, Dr Inglis; hon, dental surgeon, Dr Pickerill; hon. physicians (Kari-tane-Harris Hospital)—Drs Allen, Batchelor, Ritchie, Ross, and Williams; hon. solicitor, Mr Mondy; hon. treasurer, Mrs D. E. Theomin; hon. foreign correspondent, Mr W. Jenkins. The Hon G. M. Thomson, who was congratulated on the honour conferred upon him, seconded the motion, and drew special attention to the necessity for looking aftey young mothers. Tho motion was agreed to.

The Chairman mentioned that an anonymous donation of £250 had been promised towards the Endowment Fund by a generous supporter of the Mr F. Milner (rector of the Waitaki Boys' High School) delivered! an address on ''The Necessity for a Sound Physical Regimen in Education." Ho directed attention to how ancient the idea of the physical training of the young was, and emphasised the success that had attended the efforts of the Greeks in this direction. After that had come a reaction, and later a revival, till now the whole question had been scientifically focussed and the best physical training was obtainable. Mr Milner dwelt on the value of fresh open air, and said that every boy should be taught to take his morning cold shower. That, coupled with good physical exercise in the open air, was a splendid foundation for a young boy's health. Speaking of open air, ho said he had 130 boys sleeping out through the summer and winter, and they kept free from colds or any bronchial affection. This method had been in vogue only a short time, but ho was very satisfied that it was going to do something for the boys. A love for physical cxercisein the open air, ho urged, was a good idea to instil into a young boy. These must bo a certain " hardening" if boys were going to stand up to'the exigencies of life. Then we wanted to give, -boys regular habits in regard to sleep and diet; both of which were very important; and the fact that the boys were interested in their exercises w-ould increase muscular activity. Mr Milner also spoke of the value of boxing and Rugby football, and contended that_ every boy should have two hours' physical traininp: in the open air daily. Ho condemned cigarette smoking by boys, also the use of alcohol, and touched on the necessity of lads, when they had reached a certain age, beins: placed in possession of a true perception of the relationship between the two sexes. ' If that wero not done boys got perverted ideas from outside. On the motion of Mr C. E. Statham, M.P. a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Milner for his address, and a similar compliment to the chairman, and the singing of the National Anthem, concluded the meeting.

The monthly meeting of the Society for the Health of Women and Children -was held on Friday. Mrs Carr presided. The matron of the Karitane Hospital reported as follows:—Number of babies admitted during the month, 4; babies discharged, 4; mothers in residence, 2. Of the babies admitted during the month one came from Gore, one from Fortrose (Southland), one from Green Island, the other from Dunedin. All babies discharged are making good progress. All the babies in hospital, with one exception, are making good progress The Plunket nurses for the north and central districts report as under:—Number of babies on the list, 718; new babies for the month, 20. The following is the report of Plunket nurse for South Dunedin district: —Number of babies on the list, 300; new babies for the month; 13. A number of sub-committees were appointed.. The folio wins: is an extract from a letter received from Dr A. Maxwell "Williamson, medical officer of health, Edinburgh:— " I had submitted to me yesterday the magnificent collection of infant clothing which has been so kindly forwarded by the society, and I hasten to express to you and to all the kind contributors and workers m-"- sincere thanks for the kindly thought and the enprrnous amount of work which is represented in this splendid _ donation. It is a most unexpected nad highly welcome evidence of common feeling which exists among your good people and our workers to find that the work here v has been so splendidly aided by. your thoughtful and generous consideration." The committee has secured a good stand for the forthcoming Agricultural Show. Part of this space will be fitted up as a " rest room " for mothers with their babies. A Plunket nurse will be in attendance, and demonstrations of humanised milk milking, bed making, etc., will be given. The hon. treasurer reported the maintenance for the month as £3l 3s 6d, also the receipt of a number of subscriptions and donations. FSUFFERED FROM RHEUMATIC FEYER 14 YEARS. IN HOSPITAL FOUR TIMES—YET CURED. " I suffered from Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatism for 14 years. I had been in hospital four times, and had private medical treatment without obtaining any permanent relief." says Mr A. Carpenter, of Lambeth Walk, London, S.E. "After taking De Witt's Kidney and Bladder Pills for six weeks I could work again. I only hope that others who suffer as I did may be induced to give these wonderful pills a trial. I consider mine a truly ftnnarkabte This is only one case out of many thousands who have been cured by this wonderful remedy. '•_.., ~ , To cure Kidney Trouble of any kind you must positively get rid of the cause—the poisonous Uric Acid. Remember, to do this a real remedy must pass through the kidneys and the bladder, and not through the bowels as most kidney pills do. When you see the urine change to a muddy bluish colour —a feature which distinguishes De Witt's Pills from all others—you know beyond all doubt that they have put their healing touch on the right spot—the kidneys and the bladder. They purify the Every reader of this paper who suffers from Backache, Rheumatism, Stone, Gravel, Lumbago. Gout, or any other form of kidney or bladder trouble should give this tried and proved remedy a fair trial without loss of time. Every chemist and storekeeper sells De Witt's Kidney and Bladder Pills at 3s per box, or 5s 6d for one 2£ times as large—a great save. _ ... If you have any difficulty m obtaining genuine De Witt's Kidney and Bladder Fills « en d the price of the package to any chemist or E. C. De Witt and Co (Ltd ), 89 Custom House quay, Wellington, and the same will be sent you immediately, hi plain wrapper.