OUR' BABIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 299, 13 September 1919, Page 5

OUR' BABIES

IBY IIVCr.IA.I Published under. tli3 auspices of tho Boyal New Zealand Society f9r tho Health of Women aid Children. "It. is wiser to put. up a fence at tno top of a precipice then to maintain an ambulaneo at the bcttom."

PEDIATRICS,

In the last annual report of tltt Central Council on page 7 t-liorr is a section with regard to a proposed conference, winch was expected to tako plucc in London on the subject of pediatrics* Pediatrics is the department of medical science wlnen relates to the care of children and tno treatment of their diseases. , By a recent mail ve have received a copy or a pamphlet issued by the Local Government Board, "Whitehall. London, .trivinE minutes of a discussion on the subject of "Pediatrics" and the resolution* passed at a conference held iu London last February. The conference was presided over Dy Sir George Newman. -A* tho matter is of pruit importance, we shall publish the resolutions, which were passed unanimously, and a list of tho medical authorities present who are sponsible for tnern. Opening of the . Conference. Major the tton. Waldorf Astor, M.P. . (Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board), saidl only- just want to welcome you here on behalf of Dr. Addison, the Pmident of the Local Government Jtyard. Unfortunately, lie is laid up with influenza, like so many other eminent persons at the present moment, and he has asked inc to apologise to you l'or his absence and to express his refrets at his inability to be present here. As you know, we arc- contemplating aettinp up a new Ministry of Health. . . "Under that Ministry at Health we hope i,lo a. great deal in tho way of improving the conditions consenting ehiUMlfi-. though,-or course it v 511 not be restricted to child welfare, and a conference hkp this, obviously, will be of the Brcate«t value, etc.

As Major Astor had to attend tug nf Cabinet, the chair was taken br Sir (jeorae Newman. Origin of the Conference. Tn his opening remarks the chairman said:—This little gathering had its origin some months ago in this) way: When n was learned that there would be certain raeeialists present in this country froiii / I'-eric. and the colonics, and possibh from France and Italy, it was thought eminently desirable that there should, bo an opportunity (riven them to meet tofa ther Jiov.-! to talk over some of the suR ]cets which concern Maternity and child welfare in their relation to the medio:!' "urriculum. At one time it was proposed tlwt there should be a large snbfcniently it was dcjided [before I came to the Local Government Board) tiiat the conforcncc should be \small end select untl that the opportunity should he taken of uiakinp: any sussest'ons which vou liavi. in mind for the new Ministry of Health Unfortunately, owine to the ra.vaj>™ of influenza, and to othe:. - causes, the conference Is much smaller than was arranged. "Now, what I suggest we should do is to have a talk round tho table tu-day ti. nn informal way, following the n&enda as far as' may be convenient to us, and I hope you' will feel unite fi'cc to introfluca any subject under' this heading which you think may bo useful In the way if suggestions tor a Miristry of Health or for action in England," etc. List of Those Prosenl at tho Conference Sir George Newman, K.O.Ti. ■ M.L.. F.E.0.P., Chief Medical Officer Local Gov-' eminent Board, and Cliief Medical Assessor Board of Education; Cnl. .T. G Adami. M.D., P. 8.5., P.E.0.P., I'rofessor of Pathology, M'Gill University, Montreal, Canadian Army Mrdical Services; Capt. Richard A. Bolt, A.8., M.D., D.P.H.. Cleveland, Ohio; Chief, Bureau of Child Hygiene, Cleveland; Instructor m.Pediatrics, Western Reserve University; Welfare Physician Babies' Dispensary and llosnital, Cleveland. Hector C. Cameron, M.A., M.D., P.R.C.P., Physician to Guy's llosnital, and Physician in charge of tho'Children's Department, Guy's Hospital. Miss Janet May Campbell, M.D., M.S., Medical Ofilccr in Chargo of Maternity and Child Welfare. Local' Government Board. John 8 Fairbairn, M.A., 8.M., -B.Ch. (Oxoul, K.Ii.OP. (Louk. 1 . •P.H..(i.H. Otatctrio Phjsician to St. Thomas's Hospital ana Gwerai Lying-in Hoipital; Lecturer In. Midwifery o.nd Diseases of Women, St.

'iiijiuass Hospital jii-dioal School." M-.T,., P.SO 8.. Assistant Obstetric Physician to the London Hopihtal; Surueon to the City of London Maternity Hospital. P. Truby Kinc, 0.M.K., M.8., B.Sc. (Public Health). Edin.: Lpcturer on Mental Diseases, Otago Uinvirsi}.v, Now Zealand: General President, Uo.vstl New Zealand Scciety for tho Health of Women arid Children: Consulting Physician. Karetane Bosnffal for Bnbios: Medical Director, ISabic3 of tho Empire Ho-, eiety, London. Miss -faiiot E. Lane-Clay-pon, Jf.D.. D.Sc., Dean and Lecturer In Hyericnc, Household aril Social Science Department, Kind's Colic;.? for Women, London. G. K. G.' Pritnhaid, JI.A.. M.D.. B.Ch. (Oxon.), M.R.0.P.; Physician, Queen's Hospital for Children; Pnvsician City of London Hospital for Diseases of tho Chest. U.' It. ilamsev. 7T.D., Assoc. Professor of Diseases of Children, University of Minnesota, U.S.A.: Visiting Physician to the University Hospital. Lieut.-Col. G. H. Strathy,' Demonstrator in Clinical Mcdicinc, University of Tuvmto: Assistant PhyS'eian, Hospital for Sie'i Children Toronto; Clinical Assistant in Medicine, Toronto General Hospital : Canadian Army Medical Corps. S. W. Wheat 311, M.D.. F.K.C.P., Assistant. Medical Officer,, Local Government Board.

Unanimous Resolutions. After hearing wiint tilt; different authorities had to say and discussing the various >' 'ii.t, me cbufcrci'.cd unanimously resolved . I.—That every effort should be made to impress on the whole community the su prune importance of brenst-feedinc, for the sake of both mother and child;'that at present ovsrisedini: of the baby, especially in tlu> first fortnight of life, is one of tile commonest ami. moat serious mistakes of nursin; mothers, often upsetting the child ami leading to the early abandonment of s«cls lintfll.—That this, tendency' can be best counteracted by a ecneral recognition of tho benefit of greater regularity'and lessened ireiiuoiicy of feeding than is customary. IIL-Tiiat with very few exceptions nursiiiK oa!y every four 1 ours from birth is best for mother, and child, though in a few cases.more fretjutnt feeding may bo desirable. IV.—That in general there should be ail interval of frven or cieht hours between th<> last feeding at i ieht and the 'first fe'.diiipr ijt tho morning. V.— That. orery roediial student prenar-, iatf for a refistrt.lil? ciualificatioß shall' receive adequate t-fticUinjr in the subjects of infancy and childlood in health and disease: that'attendance in a department "where instruction is :;ivci. ( in these sub-,l-e's should be cpnipidsur.v for. a period of not less than three months; - ami that s. nie Si'eHal |)»rt of t-l'.'i final examination in iiicdicino should bu devoted to these subjects. Yj.—l'flit. a.s far a:; practicable, this study shnli follow upon, and be co-ordi-r.ated with, a satisfactory course in obstetrics and, gynccoio'-y. and flmuld . i« made available for ;o:.■J-avn-diuilstudents; farther, we are convinced H<:n tho present training in bbKHrto much to be desired, especially in r«uar'l to tho kolt of facilities for bsdsku' tcauhiuE in lfl'.o-. wifery.

Vll.—That we consider prea 1 public advantage would result 'Vow it larger measure of uniformity in l.lic advice j;iven by public authorities and others in reeyoct of maternity, .ire rliild welfare; the only way in which w> think this can oe scoured is by obluini'isr a written slatement from a body ot experts. ■ vnT.-Tll.lt both pr'f.cticn! and theoretical instruction in infant hygiene should form a part of thu tvaininz of midwives and of.-all porsons emrascd bj public authorities in infant vwifaro work. IX.-'-Tlmt matennty nursing should only bo undertaken by competent and ade-(luttteiy-trained persons, preferably by (tualiCed midwives.