OUR BABIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2187, 27 June 1914, Page 13

OUR BABIES.

Published under the auspices of the Society tor the Health of Women and Children. "It is wiser f.o put up a fence at the ton of a prccipico than to maintain on ambulance at, the bottom." AMERICAN APPRECIATION. . I have already given srnio extracts from the annual report of. the central branch of the society in Dmicdin, because it contains matters of vital interest not only to all the other branches as regards t'licir particular work, but also because it deals clearly and definitely with certain problems directly atrecting the well-being of mother and clulcl throughout the Dominion—indeed, throughout tho wholo world. This report will be posted to anv address on receipt of 3d. in stamps, bv _Hygeia," care of "Otago Witness," Dunedin. I . That this Dunedin publication is much moro than a mere annual report is 6hown by the following paragraph taken from a descriptive appreciation of tho work- of the Society for tho Health of Women and Children, just issued (March 30, 1914) in Washington, by the United btates Central authorities :-- \ PUBLICATIONS. . Sbmo of the publications of Ihe New Zealand Society are :— Annual Report.—This is a pamphlet ot about 24 pages. [Memo, by "Hy~ geia": Tho reference is to the report tor last year—the preseiit year's report has grown to 32 pages.]' It is prepared with the object not only of summing up what has been.accomplished in the preceding year, but of presenting instructive material concerning the history and organisation of' tho society, together wtih its objects and aims. It rcflests a striking cordiality towards the Government, the newspapers, and every agency and individual connected in any way with the operations and problems of the society, and an unvarying spirit of encouragement and hope. The following extract from the 1914 report will be read .with interest;— THE CALL FOR ENLIGHTMENT IN AMERICA. Dr. La Fetra, of New York,, speaking at the London Congress on "The Necessity for Special Education of Doctors in Infant Hygiene," said:— i"Tho pliulic needs and demands physicians who are well instructed in tlie caro or babies. In this connection must be mentioned the need of nurses trained in infant hygiene. There is an immense and growing demand for such nurses. A wavo of interest in social welfare, work is now spreading over tho whole civilised .world. . .•. The weakest link in the chain is the dearth of women • sufficiently experienced in infant feeding and hygiene . closing, ■ I will simply reiterate that, , in matters of hygiene, what is best for tho baby is best for tho race." Dr. Truby.King, after.eulogising'and discussing Dr. La Fetra , s- paper, said:— "The conclusion arrived at in New Zealand is that the mothers of poor children are not more in need of advice and instruction than the mothers tof rich children, and therefore we. make tho services of our nurses equally open to the mothers of all classes, and these services are given gratuitously, just as our education is free. • Indeed, we consider this a most important plankin tho programme' of education, and I would like to know if that view is taken in tho United States, and. if so, how far Dr. La Fetra agrees witlj.it!" i In replying, Dr. La Fotra said:—' , "TJiero. is no question but that the hnrse who looks..after.the health of the mothers and children must do that alone; otherwise... . . the moro urgent calls of tho sick would take hur attention away, and sho would probably put off for another day wha't should be done immediately at ' tho 'time of her visit. . •. ." With regard to the point raised by Dr. King, as to the nurses's services being available for all-classes, Dr. La Fetra, said:— "•The , vast number of people in moderate circumstances hnvn not yet been roached(in tho United States), and that is the problem wo have yet. to work out." Ho concluded by saying h° thought they would learn sometime of great value from tho experience of Ne-,v Zealand. Dr. King's paper, which came on later, led to a proposal by Dr. Dundas (Chief Health Officer at Rams-cate) that something shou'd be attempted in Enu land on the New Zealand lines. Sinco then tho matter lias been actively taken in hand in London. APPRECIATION IN'' IRELAND. .On March 14 of this year the "Irish Times concluded a long article dealing with'our Society, by saying:— • ? "The publication of 'Feeding and Gare.of Baby,' in London is the benmning of .a campaign in theso countries by the Society for the Health of' Women and Children. ... "It will have, to take into account certain factors which do not oxist in tho Antipodes. For instance,, the problem of extreme poverty docs not exist, so we understand, in Australia or New Zealand; at any rale, it exists on a much less serious scale. ■ "But.we do hot suppose for moment that secondary differences in tho conditions which exist hero will have much upon the success of the Society's propaganda. Tho fundamental fact'of ignorance has to be overcome here 53 elsowlicre. If the Society has devised a method which has been nucccisful in other countries, we need not fear that jit will he ;i failure in Ireland or England. If its members are filled with the. true spirit of brave endeavour, they 'will 'overthrow all obstacles in their path. We do not hope for a Utopia all at once, but we shall expect some good results. ' Many other societies aud organisations have tried to improve tho chances iii life of the children of our country,-but none has started with wide experience and , a tradition of success behind ■ it. We hops for 2rp.lt, thi:fft:i from the Society for tho Health of Women and Children.' , Next week w«. shall publish somo specially interesting extracts from the 13-page Bulletin just issued in Washington by the Government of the United States (Children's Bureau). This-publi-cation minutely describes the Society's work and cordially commends it for adoption in America. UI&io Builds - Bonny Babies.—Advt.