OUR BABIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1947, 2 January 1914, Page 8

OUR BABIES.

TBI Higeu,! Published under the auspices of the Society for the Health of Women, and Children. "It is wiser to. put up a. fenc« at the top of a. precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom." , NOTE.—The Socioty strongly disapproves of the use of artificiaj foods as a substitute for mothers' or humanised milk. Full directions for the preparation of tho latter are contained in the Society's pamphlet entitled'"What Baby Needs." D.R. KING'S LECTURE. (Continued.)' 'AIMS AND OBJECTS OF THE ' SOCIETY.

rj' uphold the sncredness of tho body and the duty of health; to inculcate a lofty view of the responsibilities of maternity and the duty of every D'-ot'her to fit'herself for the perfect fulfilment of the natural calls of motherhood, both, before and after childbirth, and especially to' advocate and promote the breast-feeding of infants. 2. To acquire accurate information and knowledge on matters affecting the health of women and children, and to disseminate sunt] knowledge through the agency of its members, nurses; and others, by means of tho natural handingon from one recipient or beneficiary to another, and by tho use of such agencies as periodical meeting > at members' houses or elsewhere., demonstrations, lectures, correspondence, .newspaper articles, pamphlets, books; etc. 3. To specially train and to employ, qualified nurses, whose duty it will 'be to givo sound, reliable, instruction, advico, and assistance, gratis, to any member of the community desiring such services, on matters affecting tho health and wellbeing of women, especially during pregnancy and while nursing infants,. and 011 matters affecting the health and wellbeing of their children: 1 and also to endeavour to educate and help parents and others :'n a practical way in domestic hygiene in general—all'these things being done with a view to conserving the health and strength of tho rising generation, and rendering bcth mother and offspring hardy, healthy, and resistive to disease.

4. To promote legislative reform in matters pertaining-to the health of women and children. '

5. To 'villi any present or future organisations which" may be engaged in, furthering the forgoing or cognate subjects.

How far these aims and objects have been realise:! maybe inferred'from the account of .the work and expansion* of the society contained in the annual report of the parent branch at Dunedin issued last April. Tlio report shows that this one branch has a- roll of. contributing members numbering 650. and that it expended in the., course of last year some £1500' in the service of parenthood, yet th<s community doubted only sis years ago whether it could support a. single nurso devoted solely to the health of mother and child. This report will be supplied-to anyone interested on application to the National Association of the Prevention of Infant Mortality at 4 Tavistock Square', London, W.C.

11l the short time and space at my disposal, I can only summarise a few of the special and tho leading features of our organisation. The association was started hs a society for mutual licdpfulness and muttnl education, with a full recognition of the fact that, so far i.s motherhood and babyhood were concerned, there was as much need for practical reform aul "going to school" 011 the part of ths cultured and wcll-to-rlo, as there was 011 tlio part of the'so-called poor and ignorant.

■ "What our Now Zealand women realised was tlrat practically liono of them lwd had adrjuate practical knowledge and training for motherhood and that this was not a. class question, but a universal failing of civilised communities. From end to end of New Zealand the rightnoss of the position taken up by the society has been confirmed over and over again by tlio oft-repeated remarks of the other mothers, "Oil, if wo had only knoTii when our children were babies!" while ycung mothers, pronerly directed from the first, tell us how little troublo their babioo.are, liow much time and worry tlicy aro saved, and (in tlm majority of cases) how_ completely they can breast-feed tlicir infants. PERSONNEL OF COMMITTEES. The committees were' to embrace all creeds and classes,' and tlioy wero to meet on grounds of common motherhood and humanity, without- any trace or. suggestion of patronago or charity. As conveyed in the second aim, the members wore first to acquiro accurate information on matters affecting tlio health of women and children; and then, having arrived at what seemed best, tlioy wero expected lo do all in their power lo convey and disseinihalo their knowledge personally anil through the various available agencies referred to. HULKS FOR PMINKKT NWtSHR. To make clear whiit the soriely expected of its nurses, I cannot do bet-

ter than quote the following passage from tlio printed rules, regulations, and advico with which tliey arc supplied "The main function of tlio society's nurses is to educate and help parents and others in a practical way in the hygiene of Hie home and nursery, with n. view to conserving the lioalth of tho whole, family, while directing special attention to the needs of mother and offspring.

"The society is extremely anxious to brinp; about a realisation of the 'suflicingness' in general of obedience to the simple known laws of life and Nature for maintaining the ' health of mother aiul child, and the inevitable Nemesis which follows sooner or later 011 any evasion of duty in this respect. "Above all, the society desires to avoid the resorting to anything savouring of mystery, or suggestivo of special knowledge or powers outside the range of understanding of ordinary men and women. The aim should always bo to stimulate and quicken the interest and self-reliance of parents in matters pertaining to the home, so that it may bo regulated in a simple, sensible, and responsible way, consistent with what is known at the present, time as to the fundamental requirements of life. "Hie society's work is essentially a health mission. In regard to domestic hygiene, its trained nurses should take tho places of untrained, unskilled neighbours, or relations in as tactful a way as possible."

Owiijg to the fact that the movement did not come into stidden existence, the society being formed to carry on a preexisting work which had proved successful, the members did not have to look about them for sources of reliable, consistent information on matters affecting the health of women and children. .They accepted in lieu of text-book the pioneering printed sheets, Igiving simple necessary directions and advice, which we had already published in some of the loading newspapers of the colony. These sheets soon gave place to a small book, "I ceding and Care .of Baby," of which some 20,000 copies have been issued during the five years, and of which, a further enlarged edition of -0,000 copies is jiow being published. (To be Continued.) Glaxo Builds Bonny Babies.—Advt.