OUR BABIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 577, 18 June 1913, Page 3

OUR BABIES.

I (By Hygeia).

Published under the auspices of the Society for the Health of Women and Children. " It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom." As the Karitane Harris Baby Hospital belongs practically (o the Whole Society, and not to Dunedin alone, we feel sure that our readers throughout the Dominion will be interested in the following extract from the Dunedin annual report: — The Karitane Harriß Hospital.— The matron reports that during the 11 months from Ist May, 1912, till 31st March, 1913, 39 babies have been under treatment, the largest number resident at one time being 22. At the same rate there would have been 97 for the year. Two of the babieg came from 'the North Island, and the re* mainder from Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, many belonging to remote, outlying districts. All of the babies admitted Were either restored Lo heatlh or greatly improved, with the exception of 12. Of these, one left to go into a private hojpital for operation; another, being incurable, returned home after 24 hours, and 10 died. Four were moribund, and died within 24 hours of admission. Two of the remainder died within a week. Three died of grave infantile darrhoea, and the other was premature, the child of an unhealthy mother, who has no living children. During the month of February there wree 11 babies in the hospital at one time suffering from epidemic summer dirrhoea. Six of them were so ill that their lives were despaired of; however, three of these recovered. A Typical Victim of Maternal Ineptitude and Ignorance. —The history of one of the infants who died within a week of admission is interesting. This baby had not had the advantage of maternal nursing, and was fed first on cow' 3 milk, water, and cane sugar; then on Neave's food and cow's milk, no regard being paid to suitable quantities, proportions, or regularity. A long-tube feeder was used; the milk was never scalded, and was kept in the kitchen cupboard. Baby slept in a room with closed doors windows, and, except on very bright sunny days, spent the rest of the time in the kitchen. Irritating flannel was worn next the skin; napkins were rarely changed, and the child suffered from a rash. As the outcome of continued living under all these injurious conditions, the baby developed dropsy, and died of a chronic septic condition a few days after entering the hospital. This illustrates the common experience among infants that death from a particular disease is, in general merely the last of a series of misfortunes —if death in the circumstances is to be regarded as a misfortune! It is the long procession of little vctims such as the above who come under the society's care year after year, in their homes or in the baby's hospital, that constantly braces us up to let nothing stand in the way of spreading knowledge of motherhood and batjyhood, that alone can prevent auch pitiable misfortunes in the future. Ignorance and ineptitude are practically the sole cause of all the wreckages in childhood. Surely it is not too much to hope that before long BVery sensible parent in the Dominion can be brought to realise that, whatever else may be desirable in the way of education, education and training in the simple laws and practice of healthy existence must stand first, as the inalienable right of everyone (especially every j'girl) born into the world and charged with the cares, responsibilities, and privileges of living and playing a part in it. Accommodation for Mother and Child.^ — Five mothers have availed themselves of the privilege of residing in the hospital with their babies, while several have come in for the day in order to have the baby weighed before and after nursing, to ascertain whether it were necessary to supplement breast-feeding Training of Nurses, etc. —Twentysix nurses have been in training in the hospital for longer or shorter periods during the 11 months ending March 31. Of these nine presented themselves for examination and passed successfully; seven qualified as Plunket nurses; the other two as Karitane baby nurses. University Graduates and Students. —The Karitane Hospital has now taken its place among the recognised teaching institutions of our University. Doctors attending the post graduate courses are given the opportunity of visiting the hospital and investigating the methods pursued there. Last winter a number of medical students attended, accompanied by one of the visiting physicians, and received clinical instruction. The lady students taking the domestic science course at the University received their practical training in the care and feeding of infants at the institution. The Baby Hospital used as a Practical School for Girls, Wives, and Mothers. —A large portion of every afternoon is taken up explaining and demonstrating to mothers and other visitors the simple needs of babyhood. This is one of the most important functions of our baby hospital. The honorary secretary of one of the new branches of the society went into residence for a few days to make a special study of the system and methods employed. Fifteen members of the Dunedin nursing division of the St. John's Ambulance Association attended a special demonstration, which included the preparation of humanised milk, the advantages of pure fresh air, the best method of making babys' bed, etc. Preparation of Humanised Milk at Hosiptal. Since October last all the milk used f>r babies at the Karitane Hospital has been prepared at the institution, instead of being procured ready made from the factory, as

heretofore. This has added greatly to the interest and proficiency of the nurses, bs they now become acquainted with every detail of the modification and grading of the milk to suit the individual babies,and can 9tudy the effect on their young charges. Visitors. —The number of visitors to the hospital is steadily increasing. During the 11 months 2484 visits have been paid; that ia at the rate of 2710 for the year. Arm.ng the visiturs were their Excellencies the Governor and Lady Liverpool, the Hons. the Prime Minister, the Minister of Public Health, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Native Affairs, members of Parliament, the savings bank trustees with their chairman, Mr G. L. Denniston, Miss Richmond, delegate to th 6 Kindergarten Conference, Miss Wrench, of the Overseas Club, and many others. Mr Wolf Harris's Deed of Gift.— From the foregoing report of the Karitane Harris Hospital we feel confident you will realise that the donor's wish is being carried out. Lest the terms of this should have been forgotten, we append the following passage from Mr Wolf Harris's letter of gift: I specially desire that, as far as possible consistent with doing full justice to the babies admitted, the hospital will continue to be so directed and managed that any mother in ordinary circumstances visiting it may feel that almost everything done in the institution could be effectively carried out by herself in her own home after receiving the necessary instruction. As conducing to this end, it is hoped that strict economy and simplicity in regard to buildings, furnishings,, appliances, clothing, etc., will be maintained as heretofore, and that the treatment will continue to be conducted, as far as possible, on broad, simple, practical, scientific lines, easily comprehensible by the' ordinary mother.