AN INFANT’S DEATH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3774, 13 July 1926, Page 17

AN INFANT’S DEATH.

IGNORANCE OF PARENTS. VALUE OF PLUNKET NURSES. ASHBURTON, July 6: The value of the work of the Plunket nurses was brought up at an inquest today on the 11-months-old child of Frederick Samuel Pethig, which died this morning. A doctor gave evidence that death was due to heart failure following pneumonia. The child was of weak constitution. The father, in his evidence, stated that on Friday night the child had a slight cold, but no notice was taken, as the baby was quiet. The mother stated that during the night t)ie baby displayed no signs of illness except that it was sniffling slightly. At 5.45 a.m. the child was asleep and breathing An hdhr later it was dead. The Coroner (Mr James Cow) said it was a dreadful thing that the mother did not +hink the child was so bad that it was necessary to call a doctor. Senior Sergeant Mathieson: It 'was either gross ignorance or carelessness. The Coroner said if the Plunket nurse had been called she would have told the parents that the child had pneumonia. The mother was emphatic that a Plunket nurse would not have done any good. A Plunket nurse had attended the child when it was four months old, and it had only gone back in health. The Coroner said it was ridiculous to talk like that. The father, who was recalled, was asked by the senior sergeant if, after hearing the doctor’s evidence, he did not consider he had been careless in not having the child attended by a medical man. Witness replied that he did, but owing to the child’s good nature they did not realise its condition. The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, adding that he was of the opinion thai a Plunket nurse should have been called in to see the baby several times during its

life. “I am sorry to have to pass these remarks,” he added, “but, to put it as mildly as possible, I do not think there was sufficient care taken of the child during the last few days. Senior Sergeant Mathieson: I have noticed there is still present the old idea that scientific training is no good. Plunket nurses were properly trained under Sir Truby King, and they have forgotten more than the mothers ever learned.