THE SOCIETY FOR THE HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1256, 9 June 1914, Page 4

THE SOCIETY FOR THE HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

The Dunediu Society’s annual report for the year ended March 31st is to hand, and presents a record of good and useful work for the advancement of humanity in the special direction indicated by its title. The principal objects of the Society are, shortly, “to inculcate a lofty view of the responsibilities of maternity, and the duty of every mother to fit herself for the perfect fulfilment of the natural calls of motherhood, both before and alter childbirth, and especially to advocate and promote the breastfeeding of infants.” There are 70 branches throughout the Dominion, and 27 nurses are employed, who are trained in the best methods of feeding and of the care of infants,

and are then provided for all classes free of any charge. They have nothing to do with the treatment of disease, which is at once .referred to medical men. They teach the mothers bow to estimate the requirements of their children at the very beginning of life, and to see.that the requisite quality of food is supplied. Above all, they never cease to urge all mothers to nurse their children. During the year just ended, 1186 cases were dealt with by the nurses (who are called “Plunket nurses”), being an increase of over 400 on the previous year’s total. The number of visits paid to the homes of mothers was 7,534, and in addition a large number of expectant mothers were seen, and a considerable amount of correspondence conducted in answering inquiries. The item of "humanised milk” is not a small one, as in the Dunedin district alone nearly 77,000 bottles were sent out during the year from the Taieri and Peninsula dairy factory. The Karitaue Hospital, in Dunedin, is conducted by the Society, and used as the training school for the nurses, fifth-year medical students, and for students in household science. During the year, 128 babies were under treatment here, an increased number of mothers have come into residence with their infants, and weekly demonstrations are held, the mothers attending being very appreciative of the teaching thus imparted. The Society has now been in existence seven years, and that its operations have met with a very fair degree of success is evidenced by the decreasing rate of infant mortality. This result is not so much the claim of the Society, but rather is credited to it by independent and well qualified Authorities. As an instance ol this, we may quote the testimony of the Hon. Dr Barrett, of Melbourne, who took a prominent part in the Australasian Medical Congress at Auckland this year, and, among other activities, made a speciality of inquiring into New Zealand’s low infant death-rate. After discussing and comparing various conditions and causes, climatical and sanitary, which might be put forward, he dismisses them as wholly insufficient to account for the fact that New Zealand’s infant mortality rate is the lowest in the world. "What then is the explanation of this phenomenon ?” h; asks, and answers: "The special and practical education given by the Society for the Health of Women and Children, the object'of which is the care of the inlant before birth and during the period of infancy—really an attempt to rear a strong and healthy race by constructive, and not by restrictive, means. Not primarily to eliminate the unfit, but to prevent their production by aiding in the full development of the healthy. The result, then, has been achieved by the education of the people by taking to the home the scientific principles which underlie our earliest existence,”

Tbe expenses ot the Society, which now amount to nearly /j,ooo a year, are defrayed by subscriptions, donations, and Government aid. In addition, “many members give their time, their money, and, best of all, themselves, to tbe cause for which the Society exists.” We have no hesitation in commending the objects of the Society to the practical sympathy of our readers.