OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 50, 23 November 1918, Page 9

OUR BABIES

I'BY HTGKtA.I

Published under the auspices of the Eoyai i\ T ow Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children.

(■:"lt ie wiser.to put''up n fence at tho lop of a precipice than to maintain »n Ambulance at the bottom." .

' 'NATURAL FEEDING: OF 'INFANTS. _ ..Last week we .published the first portion. of an introduction to tho English edition of "Natural Feeding of Infants." The'introduction was written by Dr. Fairbairn Obstet.*!* , Physician and Lecturer on Midwifery and Diseases of-Women at St, Thomas's Hospital, London. This . week we aro printing the. remainder of the introduction, and we'advise 'any of our readers who missed last week's column to look it lip. '..'.'

DR.. FAIRIUntX'S INTRODUCTION.

(Continued.) It is. not, however, .so miich ray object to discuss, the Question, in detail as to urge tho'- need lor earnest consideration and reform, especially at the present time. The war, , with its tragic sacnlico of bo niuen of the. best and strongest of cur young manhood, has mode the.country' realise, as' it. had not hitherto done, the'iieed for a strong and sturdy population for'a nation-tnaV is' to Survive in the striiEule for existence, and especially for a nation like ours, with all its daughter nations- calling lor children of the parent', stock.

If thesu . ai'e reasons why'the -subject should commend itself to the people of this country. I should like to eive some reaßoiis why Dr. Truby Kincriis specially uualih'cd to speak with confidence and authority as to the details and broad bearing of the whole matter.

For over a quarter ol a century he has had .exceptional facilities and opportunities in' this connection for research and practice, not only in his own profession, but on the broad bioloKieal Bide, in ■ regard to the rearing and study of plantß and animals,' and the bearincs of these problems on the rcarlne of humanity. Further, he has spent much tiuio and paine in personally investicatijiu tho conditions and agencies affecting mother and child, for good »r ill. uot only on tho other side of the world, but in this 'country and in Europe, America, a'na Japan.

K'lnllr. when Dr... Truby Kins asserts confidently that every inothcr can nurse her child, he does »o with the direct authority derived from lonz Drattiiv.il experience at the Hospital for Mother and Ulnld which he established some twelve years aeo near Duuedin. Here a series of mothers, who Usui entirely given up breast-feeding for varying icriu-ds. and had been considered to be unable to feed their babies in-the natural way havo been enabled in a very ehort time' to resume complete suckling, with inestimable, benefit to both mother and child. In appealing to Ihe women of New Zealand Dr. Truby King has throughout:» e in tine pamphlet, tried to give them s mple and reasoned explanations as m the why and wherefore, of all he hn» !,nT t. a iV' d I « ldTOC a t ed-indoed this, has undoubtedly been a great factor in the success tliat has .attended his teaching Hls ramam has been that the mother fa the oxccutivc, and that therefore it is neceseary to gam her 'confidence -ind oS^n-^hi-Sfbrci^K^ I)r. Truby Kiliß shows clearly, forcibly and convincingly how breaet-fccdiiiß can lie promoted, cetabliahcd. or restored by simple natural means, and there i s ~„ P»»ißii.vini: hie contention that this follow" ing of Nature ami of duty would not on V prove an enormous boon to mother m chid, b ut yould be of the create t Posnib e iinnprtance to the whole nation Memo, by ••]fy K cia."-It is very Bra tj. fyinp to have the society's work and it, leanhinKs so whole-heartedly endowed by fliieh a prominent man as Dr. Fairbnini As illustrating Dr. Pairbuirn'e reference jo the series or mothers who aftrr hav mg entirely given up breasl-feedinir. were enabled to resume complete suchlinc we draw attention to the case detailed on races 11 to 17. "Natural Feeding of In fonts.. Kew Zealand cdiMon. This ca«e is worthj' of careful study.