DRUGGING CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 263, 26 July 1918, Page 6

DRUGGING CHILDREN

Sir, —In the first few weeks of war, ' when the horrors of atrocities in Belgium were unfolded to tho world, nothing struck homo to the hearts o£ mothers more than the story ot the baba whose small body was found spitted. by a bayonet to a doorway. .Sir, tlierc is a horror more sinister, and as deadly, in some of our homes to-day! 1 refer to tho of drugging helpless babes and young children, which is undoubtedly practised at this moment—the worse, tiiac it is often unsuspected, and incalculable harm is wrought on the bodies and minus of the little victims. This crime against infancy lias been committed for years past, as is well known, but when discovered tho parents are content to quietly rid themselves of the menace, and observe a conspiracy of silence for fear of legal consequences to themselves. I earnestly ask mothers and guardians to exercise every care and precaution when bringing strangers into their homes to lini'so their children. Let them be quick to notice any pronounced change in the habits and appearance of the children. Perhaps from being strong, healthy, somewhat riotous and unxuly, they become suddenly—with the advent of the stranger—quiet and tractable, if at times a trilie dull and sickly. True, the children now sletp well at night, giving the household that much-needed rest and comfort which has been missing so long, and all sing praises of the wonderful management of the new nurse. AVhere a woman enters a house, taking entiro care of several young children of varying age, health and temperament, and in a day, with one magic touch, reduces them to complete docility, there I urgo watchfulness! Children's nurses who aro faithfully and honestly doing their duty (and this describes the majority) do not fear the supervision and help of tho mothers, especially in the first few weeks Of their employment. At present the law affords no protection for children in this matter, and many drugs which in England are. scheduled under tlio Poisons Act may be purchased hero without question, and in any quantity. .Is it not time that the women of Now Zealand should unite with the Plunket Society and the S.P.W.C. to stamp'mil this evil?—l am, etc., ONE WHO KNOWS.