OUR BABIES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144421, 8 July 1914, Page 8

OUR BABIES.

By HYGEIA.

Published under tho auspices of tho Society for tho Health, of Women and Children,

“It is wiser to put up a fence at tho top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” AMERICAN APPRECIATION.

I have already given Rome extracts from tho annual report of the Central Branch of the Society in Dunedin, because it contains matters of vital interest not only to all tho other branches, as regards their particular work, but also because it deals clearly and definitely with certain problems directly affecting the well-being of mother and child throughout the Dominion indeed, throughout tho whole world. (This 32page report will be posted to any address on receipt of 3d in stamps, by Hygoia, care of Otago Witness, Dunedin). That this Dunedin publication is much more than a mere annual report is shown by tho following paragraph taken from a descriptive appreciation of tho work of the Society for the Health of Women and Cliildrcn, just issued (March 30, 10M) in Washington by tho United States Central authorities:— PUBLICATIONS. Some of the publications of the New Zealand Society arc; Annual Report.—This is a pamphlet of about 24 pages'?. [Memo, by Hygeia: 'The reference is to the report tor last year—the present year’s report has grown to 32 pages.] It is prepared with tho object not only of summing up what has been accomplished in mo preceding year, but of preseiitlig instructive material concerning the history and organisation of tho society, together with its objects and aims. ).c reflects a striking cordiality towards the Government, the newspapers, and every agency and individual connected in any way with the operations and problems of tho society, and an unvarying spirit of encouragement and hope.

Tho following extract from tho 19X1 report will bo read with interest;

THE CALL FOR ENLIGHTENMENT IN AMERICA.

Or. La Fctrn. of New York, speaking at the London Congress on "The Necessity lor Special Education of Doctors in Infant Hygiene.'' said; “The i>u biic needs and demands physicians who are well instructed in the care of habits. In this connection most bo mentioned the need of nurses trained in iniant hygiene. There is an immense and growing demand for such nurses. A wave of interest in social welfare is now spreading over the whole civilised world.

. . . The weakest Jink in the chain is tho dearth of women sufficiently experienced in infant feeding and hygiene. . .

"In closing, I will simply reiterate that, in matters of hygiene, what is best for tho baby is best tor the race.” Dr. Trilby King, after eulogising and discussing Dr. La Felra's paper, .said;

‘■'The conclusion arrived at in New Zealand is that tho mothers of poor children are not more in need of advice and instruction than the mothers of rich children, and therefore we make tho services of our nurses equally open to tho mothers of all classes, and those services are given gratuitously, just as our education is free.' Indeed, we consider this a most important plank in tho programme of education, and 1 would like to know if that view is taken in the United States, and, if so, how far Dr. La Fetra agrees with it.”

In replying, Dr. La Fctrn said: “There is no question but that the nurse who looks after the health of the mothers and children must do that alone; otherwise . . the more urgent calls of the sick would take her attention away, and she would probably put off for another day what should be done immediately at the lime at her visit. With regard to tho point raised by Dr. lung as to the nurse's services being available for all classes. Dr. La Fetrasaid:— “Tho vast number of people in moderate circumstances have not yet been reached (in tho United States), and that is the problem we have yet to work out.” He concluded by saying ho thought they would learn something of peat value from the experience of Now Zealand.

Dr. King’s paper, which mime on later, led to a proposal by Dr. Dundas (Chief Health Officer at Ramsgate) that something should be attempted in England on the New Zealand lines. Since then the matter has been actively taken in hand in London. APPRECIATION IN IRELAND.

On March Id of this year the Irish Times concluded a long article dealing with our Society by saying: “Tho ■ publication of ‘Feeding and Caro of Baby’ in Loudon is tho beginning of a campaign in these countries by the Society for tho Health of "Women and Children. . . ■ "It will have to tako into account certain factors which do not exist in tho Antipodes. For instance, the problem of extreme poverty does not exist, so we understand, in or New Zealand; at any rate, it exists on a much less serious scale. “But we do not suppose for a moment that secondary differences in tho conditions which exist here will have much effect upon the success of tho Society’s propaganda. The fundamental fact of ignorance has to hi' overcome hero as elsewhere. If the Society has devised a method which has been sucoessfnl in other countries, wo need not fear that it will ho a failure in Ireland or England. If its members aro filled with tlio true spirit of bravo endeavour, they will overthrow all obstacles in thoir

path. We do not> hono for a Utopia all at; once, but wo shall expect some good results. Many other societies and organisations have tried to improve the chances in life of the children of our country, but none has started with wide experience and a tradition of success behind it. Wo hope for great things from the Society for the Health of .Women and Children.’ 5 Next week wo shall publish some* specially interesting extracts from tho ,18-page Bulletin just issued in Washington by tho Government of tho United States (Children 5 ® Bureau). This publication minutely describes tho Society’s work and cordially commends it for adoption in America.