PLUNKET SOCIETY.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 744, 4 July 1922, Page 5

PLUNKET SOCIETY.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS, GOOD WORK BY LOCAL SOCIETY'. Some interesting jfacts concerning Piunket work were revealed by Mrs A. P. Day, president of the Frank’-. ■]jn Piunket Society, in an address at the concent given in ,aid of the Society's funds on Thursday night. Mrs Day stated that the Society was conscious of |he -fact \that there existed ;' J n some quarters a prejudice against them. She was sure this was because s® few peaplte really understood jts aims and objects. The Piunket system was founded over 20 years ago by that splendid man, Dr Truby King. The doctor set out to ascertain the cause oif the 1 appalling death rate among infants under the age of 1 year. His investigations led him flo define the cause through improper feeding and the astonishing ignorance that existed among mothers oi cass. Ho «et about in an endeavour to obviate the existing state of affairs, and after much scientific research was able to manufacture a wholesome, almost natural food for infants in the form of humanised milk. Dr Truby King founded the Karitane Hospita:, where nurses who have previously qualified in all' the branches of nursing, make a thorough *tudy of baby welfare, and at ithe end oif a year are able (to qualify as Runket nurses. Piunket workers reallfse that the nation's mosit precious ! jfsset is jts babies 1 , and that the healthy babies of to-day make the Strong men and women of the futurel Statis tics have proved conclusively that wherever Pl-unket work flourishes the death rate .among infants has peiceptibly decreased, and a\t the pliaces nearest the seat . of the work Dunedin— and southern parts o^ the South Island, the percentage of deaths is the lowest. Gradually the work is spreading, and Auckland and the northern parts of the North Island are feeling the benefit. Quite

recently Auckland was able to boast a record low dearth rate of infants. Referring to the Franklin Plunket Society, Mrs Day said it waCs founded in. March, 1921, and in October the Society was able to obtain the services of a nurse, Since October 820 mothers. 785 babies have visited the FJunket rooms. The nurse has visited 292 homes. The Society has ehti-foeresa(? acihamu Society has thei-efore justified its existence. On behalf of the Society Mrs Day thanked the public for the ready way in which (they always responded to (the cause and for the help tendered in a! pubO'c undertakings. She urged ‘the necessity of more people becoming members of the Society* the annual subscription for which was ladies 5s and men 10s.