INFANT WELFARE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 262, 24 July 1918, Page 3

INFANT WELFARE

"PLUNKET" WORK AT HOME

DR. TRUBY KING IN ENGLAND

■ Tlio following extracts, which the "Ohijjo Dnily Times" lias been iierniitted to make from a private letter received from Dr. Truby King, C.M.G., under date May 20, will bo read with interest as showing the nature of. his activities in Great Britain:—

"What a wonderful place St. Thomas's is! It :s the- most attractive and wonderful hospital in London, and has always been regarded as the most conservative, as it is also the best endowed and wealthiest. The foundation dates back to a monastic almshouse in the time of Stephen. Then it became a regular monastic hospital; but when Henry VIII took possession of the E.G. churches and monasteries the patients were turned out on to the street, and remained out for about twenty years or so, when Bishop Eidiey preached such a moving sermon, before. Edward VI (I think) that the monarch's conscience moved him to restore the hospital to its proper use. From that time on the governors of the hospital have the unbroken oricinal records and papers. St. Thomas's is specially known, as regards recent history, .as the site of Florence Nightingale's work and nursing foundation in London. I think you know how impressive the institution is, as one sees" it from Westminster Bridgo, extending for a quarter of a mile exactly opposite I'arlinment Buildings. Immediately behind, and to the south, lies Lambeth Palaco and grounds. 'We are wedded in between Church and State,' as they proudly sny' at tho hospital. Beyond this again is Bethlehem Hospital (Old Bedlam); just opposite is Westminster Abbey; and. immediately above the bridge are tho now County Council buildings, an enormous and impressive pile in course of erection. "As soon as there is breathing space (always expecting more than 21 hours a day!)' I shall take some photographs from tho bridgo and from the hospital. The scene changes every day and every hour, and I don't wonder that the governors and staff are proud of tho .old place and its history, romance, poetry, and beauty. When I say 'old place' I am thinking of tho past—not of the hospital as it is' to-day. Though built about the time of the new Edinburgh Eoyal Infirmary, it is more , modern, and the operating rooms, etc., are recent and quite ideal. "How I should have been asked by the governors to lecture there is indeed stiange, because Londoners don't take quite kindly as a vnlo to Scotch graduates—especially Radicals like myself! Dr. Fairbairn, tlm gynaecologist to tho institution, was one of the movers; but, as he candidly said to me. when introducing a Miss Crawford (not 'nurso' or 'sister,' but one of the lady almoners,' who at St. Thomas's look after what are regarded its 'well babies' —not acuto cases for doctors, but such as our Plunket nurses would deal with): 'You know, it was this nurso who first set us going in this matter of caving specially for babies. She came buck quite enthused and inspired from a lecture o. yours eonie four or (ivo years ago, and she and Miss Cuminings have built tho whole thing up between them, and they fiwoar by your book,' etc. Then when the matter came before the governors. Sir George JEacinillan, who is. ono of them, said: 'Oh, I know Dr. King quito well; I've had talks with him about tho whole matter in connection with Ins book,' etc. "Strange coincidence, isn't it ? But, stranger still, when 1 saw Herbert (tho weighing machine manufacturer, who has hken so keen an interest, and who has lent us the machines) he told mn how his wif'o had been, almost ruined through haslo and forceps in tho wise of his last baby, and reminded me how I had warned him ntcninsl men things. He changed his doctor to ;i Dr. Wyaft, mid told Wyott what wonders the book ai».d what I had told him had done lor Ms children. (He says ihey ore <jmic perfect, and wants mo to pay Uioy a visit.) Wyatt became very interested, mid eaid how keen the muses '.: nuuiiuii) woro about, it at Thomas's. Jo make a long story short, Wyalt developed thing* at Thomas's (where bo was the children's man) along our iinos; and' tho other day Jlv. Koberte (the secretory and factotum who really runs and controls the hospital, and is the actual co-ordinator and plenvpoh-nti-iry of the institution) said to, me: 'You know, it wasn't Dr. Vairniurn who was so much at the bottom of your beiiig <;skcd to come on—or, at least, of your association with our baby work before you carA? here-as Wyatt (who is now in France), and tho lady almoners. And the lady almoners are not even nurses—have never had hospital training as nurses. They have to do with alms and social help and all that sort of thing, but they have developed this other despised Bide, which real nurses didn't wnnUto have to do with.' "One of the residents naivery told mo the whole situation was irregular, and that the doctors and nurses were getting jeclous of tho lady almoners, -vho were taking too much on tl.enwlvps. though they really had' no professional status atull!

"Miss Cnmmings and Miss Crawford are both Indies and entirely devoted and hijjh-minded—tcnlly much nbovc (he le,vcl of tho 'hverago nurse. They work <|iiite in 'the snirit of Florence Nightingale or Jfrs. Keen, who lias done irondfix nt North Islington, and v ho says with pride 'that everything here is on our lines. They all very generously cite the society's book us their .cxt-book; and Gowers, 'the big medical publisher j>ml vendor, opposite Kinpr's College Hospital, has always a thick pile on the counter, and says (lie ?nlo is now large mid Rtciuly. Macmillan* nre just orderiii£t another edition of iO.OOO.

New Zealand Justified, ' "So whatever conies you soe that the

Ncir Zealand work iin3 found itself, and dono what it sot out to do; even hero in conservative London; and I am getting letters of gratitude and appreciation from parents all the time. "Tho lectures at Thomas's, of which. I hfivo delivered four, have be-?n a great success. The Governor's Hall is a beautiful placo, which holds about 200. Mr. Eoborls, the secretary, kepi, some vorkmen going for ft week putting up fcpocial l)lack blinds to enable tho lantern slides to be- used. One Uind was 32ft. equnre to shut out (.lie dome light. To fix this up horizontally on a roller v--ns a bit of an undertaking.

"The .iiidienco is mainly composed of infant-wolf are nurses and promoter!? from various institutions and from the London County Council, and there are some medical students who attend regularly. Somo doctors came to the opening lecture; (he rest nvre not for them. Wo could Ikivo twice filled the hall, and had to refuse 50 tickots to the London County Council, and they tell me that about SO people apply a week who .have to bo refused.

"For tho rest, as regards lectures,, etc., my programme is almost full for months ahead. I have been, placed on the executive for National Baby Week Carnival, and was assigned the first lecture of the series for workers and promoters. 'Mothercraft and Child Welfare in tho Rearing of an Imnerial Rice." , I prefaced this with 'Loyo of Children,' and my address was received enthusiastically, Eric Pritchard nnd Salceby speakiDgveiy iiieely at the close. "Then I am small exMljit of boby pk.uU and baby animals in connection with the Baby Week Exhibition in London, ere.

"Busing the fortnight preceding July 1, when Baby Week commence.?, I sliall be lecturing in (lie North of England— Sunderland, Leeds, Huddersfield, etc.— and in the East End I shall give several lectures in connection, with Toynbce Hall. I cannot tell .veil how _ many fixtures there are. We aro wedging in all I cau manage, and we sometimes find that I havo three incompatible requests for one date, and in theso cases, of course, we select what is most important. "There have been extraordinary unavoidable delays and <liffi;;;i3tie& in conJinction with getting going at Earl's Court,'but now wo have Miss Patrick, Nurse Orton, and. Mrs. Carvefl (she was Nurse Pawcetl, I fancy, one of the early Karilarie graduates) established t.iere, and everything will bo ill £ood going order by the end of the "'nonth. We aro already talcing in a few babies. J ho difficulties in the way of getting tno bigger Karitane Hospital founded m the suburbs are stupendous. We liavf' examined endless mansions at the periphery of London, as wo cannot build—building being not even nowadays if yon could afford to build at present prices—but so far we havo not hit- on anything quite suitable ready built. However, in any case °ix hands are full meantime, and the Marlborough School premises are excellent for making a start. They will accommodate perhaps 15 or 20 mothers and babies, and as many nurses and students. "Then we are going to teach some <0 students from King s College for Women, over which Dr. Janet Lane presides, and we ire asked to do other teaching work of a similar chaiacteii, including the Koyal Free Hospital foi Women. The authorities of the London Count}- Council have asked me to lectu.ro to their nrmy of midwives, and tliew special doctor is very Jceen about this. Altogether, one hardly knows where to turn! The three New Zealand nurses I havo mentioned are 'bricks —absolutely devoted, simnl.V idei V n n tarn in together splendidly-wonderful team in London for little New Zealand. "The organisation known as BaS? of tho Empire Socicty We have two rooms at tho Overseas Club, Aid wych."