THE BEAUTIFUL BABIES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 274, 13 August 1921, Page 5

THE BEAUTIFUL BABIES

WHAT BECOMES OF THEM? THE PURPOSE OF THE PLUNKET SOCIETY (By Dr. F. Truby King, 0.M.Q.) Many years ago Professor Patrick Geddas, tho great biologist and humanitarian, and joint author of our most noted book on sex, paused to ask himself this question: What becomes of all the. beautiful babies? Ho had steeped ihimseli in a profound study of the origins and destinies of baby-plants and baby-animals, and what struck him as the most extraordinary and disappointing of mysteries was tho failure of the little human beings all around him to oomo up to tho splendid possibilities with whiofi they nearly all seemed to start. As he wandered along the streets or byways of cities, or even in the open country, he found himself confronted everywhere with the same thing-boys and girls, men and women, young and old. had fallen infinitely short of what they might have been. This was more than twenty years ago, but can the most optimistic of us say that matters are now appreciably better than they were then, or that we have paid any serious attention, to the 'clear-sighted and com-mon-sense warnings of men Buch as Herbert Spencer and Geddes Could anything be more amazingly significant or prophetic than the following passage from Herbert Spencer? Physical Fitness. To be a nation of “good animals” is tho first condition to national prosperity. Not only is it that the event of a war often turns on the strength and hardiness of soldiers, but it is that the contests of commerce are in part determined by tho bodily endurance of producers. Thus far we have found no reason to fear trials of strength with other races in either of these fields. But there are not wanting signs that our powers will presently be taxed to the uttermost. And this was written half a century ago, before George V became King! , Standing in Lambton Quay to-day, what is it that strikes us, if wo trouble to observe and think whether we are doing justice to our race? .As the. crowd passes up and down the street before us, how many youths-or adults of either sex could we pick out who would compare favourably, as samples of human perfection, with the beautiful babies wUo are so comparatively common? The vast majority are out of the running altogether. This failure to develop and grow up according to early promise causes no surprise or protest—we have got out of the way of expecting the average man or woman to have the shapely feet, good limbs, broad hips, deep chest, square shoulders, good muscles, graceful easy carriage, and tho aspect of radiant health and perfection which would be the prevalent type if man took as much trouble about tho rearing and care of his own species as he does about tho rearing of cattle and horses. Deformed and crippled feet, spindly calves, indifferent bodigs, shallow chests, round shouldersj and slouctnng gait characterise the majority. The Elect Few. Even among tho elect few, where can we find the individual who, however well ho may look, would be fairly entitled to 75 per cent, of marks as an ideal specimen of manhood or womanhood, if the five following points wore given the place they ought to have in our standards of bodily fitness:— 1. .Well-developed jaws and sound good teeth. 2. Fully-developed nose and throat, freo from all restrictions or obstruc- ’ iions. 3. Fully-developed chest, with ample breathing capacity. 4. Sound digestion-and freedom from constipation, etc. 5. Shapely, well-developed calves and feet, free from distortions and deformities. The Majority Unfit. Our shortcomings are obvious even to the casual observer, yet for the most part people regard the present state of matters ns normal. There is no general protest against human unfitness. . So long as people can manage to struggle through their daily work with the help of occasional patchings-up by the doctor and the dentist, it does not occur to then that any higher standard than this is to bo expected. Yet it is quite safe to say that, with very few exceptions indeed, those who drag along with indifferent health, and who hardly ever feel perfectly well, strong, and fit, could have grown up excellent specimens of humanity had they been properly and sensibly reared.

For the most part men and women do not suffer from inevitable ill-health or unfitness, but mainly from the results of a few easily avoidable daily transgressions of the laws of life on the part of their parents or themselves. The principal cause of the progressive tendency of modern bodily unfitness and inefficiency lies with our women, and is duo not to indifference on their part, but to lack of necessary knowledge and training, and consequent failure to put in daily practice the simple laws of healthy living, as regards themselves and their offspring!—before and after child-birth. . Ths Plunket Society. The purpose of the Plunket Society is not merely to protest against injustice to tho new generation, but to do its bait iu u simple, practical way to remedy the evil, and of all tho measures being carried out in our midst to-d«y it feels that nothing is of more importance than tho splendid effort now being made by the Citizens’ Committee to raise .£lO,OOO to found and endow a central Karitane Institution for Wellington. The term “Karitane Hospital,’ if used in this connection, would bo quite inadequate; because, though the institution will restore to health many sick children, it will do an even wider and more far-reaching service to the whole community as a convenient centre for tho visits of mother and child to tho Plunket nurses and as a school for mothers indeed, as a teaching centre for girls also, where all can be taught and shown tho simple essentials for healthy growth and healthy living in the broadest sense. We trust that the appeal now being made will meet, as we feel sure it w.y, with the moat generous response. We trust also that the Citizens’ Committee will succeed in doubling the P res f nt membership roll of the Wellington branch of the Plunket Society. The modest fee of five shillings is always welcome, but still more welcome is the assured interest support, and sympathy of new members; indeed, the whole spirit mid intent of tho society's mission is to promote enlightnnrnent, mutual helpfulness, and co-operation for the sake or mother and child. The race marches forward On the feet of little children.