OUR BABIES.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2348, 2 January 1915, Page 3

OUR BABIES.

fßi HTflMi-1

Published under the auspices of the Bociety for the Health of Women ana Children. , . "It is wiser to put up o, fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom." DUMMY OR COMFORTER. There is no subject on which more protests reach me from branches of the society, mothers, and Plunkot nurses than the continued use of the dummy, in spite of its injurious effects on tho child. Of course, one seo3 less of the dummy than formerly; but it is not disappearing anything liko as rapidly , as anofchor allied abomination—namely, tho "long-tube feeder," though it is hard to say which is the more injurious. The society has been asked to prepare an illustrated leaflet showing the damage done by the dummy to mouth, jaws, and developing teeth; also tho spoiling of the airway above tho roof of the month, _ etc. It is contended that an authoritative leaflet would be a more effective deterrent in many quarters than personal argument. We are urged to force home tho part played by the dummy, not only in disfiguring tho child for life, and giving it a tendency to prominent upper front teeth, and :a weak, rabbit-like face, but also in giving rise to mouth-breathing and adenoids, indigestion, etc. No pains should be spared in .this matter, and we hope to have. a convincing leaflet available for 'issue be-' fore tho end of tho year. However, I may point out, in the meantime, that almost everywhere needing to be said on the subject is already explained and illustrated on pages 132 to 138, and 140, 141 of the society's book, "Feeding and Care of Baby," from which. I quote the following:—

EXTRACT FROM SOCIETY'S BOOK. "The society has been making 6trong efforts to bring about the abolition of tho 'dummy,' and lias drawn .the attention of the Legislature to 'tho extent and gravity of tho evils resulting from, its use. Doctors and dentists' are at ono on this matter! Every year the journals of both professions kern with, references to'the evils of tho 'dummy habit.' The abomination was scathingly denounced at a recent Dental Congress, and the following extracts from a letter since received by the society from the president of the New, Zealand Dental Association need no comment: — In.reply to yonr note [concerning the dummy] speaking from a dental point of view, there can be no,doubt as to its evil effects. . . . During early childhood the bones are soft and easily moulded, so the use of, any such appliance as the "dummy" is highly injurious.' By its use-the bonea of both mouth and nose are involved. It is the cause, in most cases, of the contracted, or -what we call the V-shaped arch, interfering with proper dentition, causing the teeth to erupt irregularly and to be misplaced', one : of the most frequent types being.protrusion, which in' turn induces moutli-breathing and its train of evils., such as adenoids, enlarged: tonsils, etc., thereby lowering . the vitality of the child and rendering it more susceptible to disease of any and every, kind. .;' . . I have said enough from the dental. point'' of view ; , alone to warrant'the-authorities'in taking steps to abolish'the'use'of such conr triyiuices as,the;..'"dummy." ' I fail to see .any argument in its favour, especially when we consider that the habit is an acquired ono. : ,

Some years ago Dr. T. F. Podley, M.D., published a striking article in the "British Medical giving, the results of his experiences in' the Far Bast and his' researches in England'as to the baleful influence of the "dummy" or "comforter." ! He said:—

"Apart from its mechanical effects upon the jaws and teeth, its use is obnoxious and uncleanly, for it'introduces into the child's; mouth-dirt and micro* organisms , and j causes. an abnormal secretion of saliva, detrimental to digestion. Of course the 'comforter' must be abolished and forbidden; its ,use is injurious,'and-if resorted to after warning should be deemed an indictable offence.- 1 ':'»'.'■ .''•'Wherever I go the ex-' : traordinary prevalence of the use of the dummy ; has astonished me. In the streets or-travellihg'.by.'rail I meet this thing ;tiie childre'nipla'ying on the sands have itUn: theirj mouths. In tens of thousands the mischief has been done, they areshamefully .disfigured for life. It seems to, me : that the arrest of this evil is as deserving of'the attention'of our legislators as many of the subjects to which they devote so much time and onorgyi" . ; ■-■ . : Dr. Piokerill, Professor of Dentistry at Otago University, and the leading dentists of the Old World "and America speak in similar terms as to the baleful influence of the dummy, and this is confirm*; 1 by leading physicians and .surgeons.-: ■■■'•■

WOMEN HARD TO MOVE. Men are not far wrong when they say .it is a hard job to get a wrong, idea 'out of our heads when once it has beoonie firmly established, and harder still to get us to give up a.bad habit. Indeed some of tho Plunket nmsos tell us that in the matter of the dummy a leaflet would work more reform through the fathers than through the mothers. I don't know whether there is much to choose. Suppose we ' try to convert both?