OUR BABIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1908, 17 November 1913, Page 3

OUR BABIES.

fBY HTOBII.I Published under the auspioes of the Society for the Health of Women and Children. "It i« wiser to put up ft fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at til a bottom." NOTE.—Tho Society strongly disapproves of tile use of artificial fooda as a substitute ■ foT mothers' or humajiiscd milk. Full directions for tho preparation of tho latter are contained in tho Society's pamphlet entitlod "What Baby Needs." I have had sent to mo tho August number of "National Health," a journal (published in London) of State, municipal, and voluntary health administration, with tho following " heading:— "This organ is''officially'recognised by tho National League for Physical Education and Improvement, tho Association of Infant Consultations and' Schools for Mothers, tho National Association for the Prevention of Infant Mortality and for the Welfare of Infancy, tho Mansion House Council for Health and Housing, and .the National Food Re'fonn Association,.and is supported by their influence—a fairly substantial list of societies and associations dealing with questions of health." » The editorial deals with the Infant Mortality Conference to bo held ill London that month, and we read: "In tho medical section the • subjects to be 'dealt with are tho necessity for special education in infant hygiene and antenatal hygiene. Among our colonies New Zealand has taken a foremost place in promoting health legislation, so that considerable interest will attach to. the contribution from Dr. Truby. King, of Duncdin, on tho New Zealand scheme for promoting the health of women and children."

Li this column you have read recently "Hygeia's" impressions of the conference, and of the need in England, for moro systematic teaching applied to all classes, and it is interesting to read in an article in this journal, entitled "The Trend of Medico-Social Effort iu Child Welfare Work," by Wilbur C. Phillips, New York, of the growing demands for such organisation as our own .society. He says: "In tho child-wel-faro movement for public health two forces have been particularly active— those embraced by th# medical profession on the one hand, and those of the so-called social workers on the other. At first the line of demarcation between these two forces was quite distinct. Of late years it has been growing less so. Students of sociology to-day clearly recognise that most of the problems which social and philanthropic agencies are endeavouring to solvo aro health problems; while, on the other hand, the fact is also beginning to be apparent ;that most' of the diseases which physi-, cians health authorities are treating and endeavouring to rectify have their origin in social causes. Reflect for a moment on the work carried out by such agencies as committees on the prevention of tuberculosis; milk committees, and committees for tho prevention of blindness. These activities indicate now .deeply the philanthropic world is delving in health problems. On tho other hand, consider that most of this effort, begun in a Ipurely; charitable Or philanthropic spirit, has found, or is finding, its way iuto our health departments, and that many of our leading hospital experts, recognising that they cannot even properly diaenose and prescribe understanding tho social conditions under-which their patients live, aro establishing bureaus of social service in the l charge of non-medical workers. Consider these things, I say, and vou will agree with'me, I think, that ; .health work is fast developing beyond ; rtlioso limits wliereiir tho medical practitioner has long been wont to hold uninterrupted. sway.

ySlowly, but surely, a newi concept is dawning in the minds of thoso who aro working and thinking on those problems. Slowly but surely we are coming to realise that even the ethical character of a peoplei han its basis in physiology; that this thing wo call health is the foundation and soUrce of civic righteousness, and that everything which tends to deprive any man or woman, youth or maid, boy or girl, of an essential to its physical growth or development is a wronc;, not only physically, but intellectually, morally, nnrl spiritually, against this and succeeding generations." '

He goes on to say: "Doctors and social workers alike aro beginning to recognise tliat. while corrective treatment'of existing sickness will remain a factor' for a long time to come, emphasis must be placed more and more on the development of preventive measures." . It has become axiomatic to say that it is more important to teach mothers how to keen their babies well than to cure them after they aro sick.

"It takes skill and training to correct a deranged digestion. 'It tatjes simple common sense, combined with a

knowledge? of wholesome.food and right living, to prescribe a ropimcn which will make a deranged digestion an impossibility.

"Teachers do not need "to Tip scientists. Tho laws of health, TiEe the laws of astronomy and mathematics, need only to be understood, propagated, and obeyed to secnro beneficent results. "And because the physician (escent where lie is directly connected with, soma organised social effort) has 110 spare time for social teaching, the problem of dealing with tho ignorance which he has pointed out as a chief causo of "infant mortality, like the problem of improving tho purely physical properties of milk, has passed into other hands." Glaxo Builds Bonny Babies.—Advt.