INFANT BRAINS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 16, 13 October 1917, Page 8

INFANT BRAINS

Sir,—A little while ago I wrote a letter on the above subject, which you kindly inserted in your paper, pointing out what seemed to be the danger to infant brains lurking in the somewhat fashionable public entertainments where the principal item is the dancing o£ children from three years (I am not sura if even that is the minimum age) and upwards. I have had many messages of approval of my letter, but I should like to see others tako up the tale and help to arouse some feeling in the public against such entertainments. I have something more to say now, seeing that there hiw recently been one of these mischievous entertainments, and actually repeated on three consecutive evenings. Think of what this means, think of all the time spent in teaching and training the poor little children, followed by three evenings of exertion ami excitement before .a public audience. Moreover one hears of fond mothers and friends sending them chocolates and other sweets, I suppose to support them during the performance! Poor little brains slid "tummies," I wonder how they felt at the end of the third performance. I do ask people to think seriously of the danger to little children froin these public displays, in which they are brought into -unnatural surroundings, tending to dangerous and undue excitement from which they cannot quickly recover, and taking from them the charm of natural, unaffected manner so pleasing to see in the little ones, l's there 110 doctor who will take up the cause of the proper treatment of infant brains and try and induce the mothers of New' Zealauil to pay more attention to the proper treatment of their children, giving them healthy surroundiugs and pursuits free from unhealthy and dangerous excitement? What is the use ot spending so much money, time, and energy in the valuable work of the Plunket. nurses in order to improve the treatment and care of children from birth .-to, say, two years of age when the benefiti of such treatment and care is neutralised by the after-treatment of fond (?) mothers? Sureiy something should be done.—l am. etc., CHARLES P. POWLES. Wellington, October .11, 1017.