INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 3

INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.

A NOVEL SUGGESTION. (Fkou Oub Owk Cormsfokdbht.)

AUCKLAND, March 3. In a letter to the City Council, Dr J. & Purdy, District Health Officer, makes com* interesting references to the question of infant life protection, and outlines a scheme which he thinks might with advantage ba put into operation ;n; n Auckland. Dr Puvdj sketched out a proposal some time ago. He cays that there should be two ladj inspectors, preferably qualified and registered women medical practitioners, whose duty it would be to visit all infants within one month of birth, and who would give instructions to mothers, if required, or render aid. He socs on : "I have suggested to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards that sets of coupons should be supplied to any mother who desires to obtain meals freo before or after birth of her child, such coupons to be distributed on. request by any accredited representative of a voluntary organisation such as an Infant Life Protection Socir-ly, or any religious denomination, or the omeia-k of the Salvation Army (the right being reserved afterwards, should it be considered necessary. that investigation be made as lo the reason . for the mother not obtaining support from her husband, if she has one). Three lady doctors in Auckland — Drs Constance Frost. Woodward Horsloy, and Eleanor Baker — have all offered to give consultations fres two *fte.rnoone a week to poor mothers requiring advice. Should you approve of the scheme of assisting the Infant Life Protection Society by supplying direct to the infants humanised milk ready prepared in proper, bottles, I will endeavour to get the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to adopt the scheme on the lines of my coupon suggestion, in the event of ihe City Council agreeing to appoint two lady inspectors on condition that the other local authorities concerned contribute to their cost pro rata. I have little doubt that the present activity which has been shown on this question will do much to reduce our infantile death rate. At the same time, neither milk depots nor the free feeding of infante will dissipate parental "ignorance, nor do they inculcate those elements of reliance, resource, and moral character on which the conduct of. the home, and consequently the rearing of children, so closely depend."