OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 70

OUR BABIES.

Sx Htgiia.

Published under the auspices of the Society for the Promotion of thfc Health of Women and Children.

ADDRESSES OF PLUNKET NURSES

AND SECRETARIES.

Jjunedin.— Plunket Nurses Mrs Matheson and Miss Ellis. Office of the Society, Health Department Rooms, Liverpool street, Dunedin. Office- hours, Monday, Thursday and Saturday, from 2to 3 p.m. Tel. 1136. Hon. sec, Mrs Carr, 8 Heriot row. Tel. 1774. Christchurch.— Plunket Nurses Morgan and Macarthy. Office of tho Society, 27 Durham street South. Tel. 94a Office hours, 3 to 3 p.m. daily, except Saturdays ana Sundays. Hon. sec., Mrs F. H. Pyne. Bealey avenue. Tel. 285. Plunkei Nurse M'Donald, 73 Aro street. Tel. 2425. Hon. sec, Mrs M'Vicar, 45 Marjoribanks street, City. Tel. 2642. fIL-nclriaaid.— Plunket Nurse Chappell,. Park street. Tel. 851. Office of the society, 'I Chancery street. Tel. 829. , Office hours Tuesdays and Fridays, 2.20 to 4 p.m. Hon. sec, Mrs. "W. H. Parkes, Maxinoto, Symonds street. Tel. 240. Jffa/pier. — Plunket Nurse Donald, Masonic Hotel. Tel. 87. Hon. sec^Mrs E. A. W. Henley, P.O. Box 64. Tel. 147. ffalmeiston North. — Plunket Nurse Henderson, care of W. Park, bookseller, The ' Square. Tel. 20. , Hours, 3 to 4 p.m. daily. Hon. sec, Mrs M. Cohen, Grey «treet. Tel. 58. JfTew Plymouth. — Plunket Nurse Warnock, Criterion Hotel. Hon. sec., Mrs R. J. Matthews.' ffiinaru. — Plunket Nurse Bowman.' Office of the Society, Arcade Chambers. Tel. -314. Office hours, 3.30 to *.3O and 6.30 to 7.30. Hon. sec., Mrs Smithson, Faillie, Sefton street. Tel. 230. •

Society's Baby Hospital, Karitane Home, Anderson's Bay, Dunedin. Tel. 1985. Demonstrations on points of interest to mothers are given by the matron every Wednesday afternoon from 2.30 to 3.3©. All mothers are invited.

Messages may be left at any time at the Plunket Nurses' Offices or private addresses. The society's official sheet of instructions, -written by Dr Truby King, price 3d (postage free), and all other information available from the hon. secretary of eaoh branch.

POPULAR ERRORS.-(Contm«ed.) Error XI.

JTHAT BABIES N£ED SOME " SOLID FOOD." Anything beyond human or humanised milk should be regarded as harmful, not beneficial, for tho first nine monthe of life. During this period nothing but milk should be given, unless prescribed for some special reason.

EBHOE XII

STHAT TAKING " WHAT'S GOING " DOES THE

BABT NO HARM THE SECOND TEAB.

Utterlj wrong. -The utmost care and attention should be given to feeding baby properly throughout the second year... ' Ebboh XIII. THAT THE GIVING OF " PIECES " BETWEEN

MEALS DOES XO HAKIf.

In reality this habit is very injurious. The natural processes of digestion, need certain times for their completion ; and nothing tends to upset the child's digestive system more than the allowing of pieces of bread, cake, etc., or even drinks of miik, apart from the regular meal hours.

Ebbob XIV.

STHAT A BABY SEEDS A BINDEB TO GIVE SUPPORT TO ABDOMEN AND BACK, AND

.TO PREVENT BISK OF BTTPTURE.

This is preposterous. A binder weakens both the back and the belly, and increases the risk of rupture. The only •excuse foi using r binder at all is to keep the dressing on while the stump of the cord is healing. Even fc." this purpose the binder, if used, should be light and elastic (say stockingette), and it should be left off immediately the cord is healed.

Erbob XV. THAT THE MODERN BABY NEEDS SO " MOTHERING."

This 16 the view of the lazy women who hold that an infant should merely rest, passively imbibe milk, sleep, and grow fat. in reality, every baby should have the active exercise and stimulation avoided by suckling or the best available -substitute. But he is entitled to, and ?ieeds, much more than this. Dr For«ryce says : —"Suckling is a prerogative of the mothei ; the capability of mothering is common to all normal adult females, and, under skilled guidance and direction, is tbe most valuable aid in the treatment of infante (whether sick -or healthy)."

Eebob XVI

THAT "SIGHT AIR" — ESPECIALLY PUBK COLD SIGHT AIB— IS DANGEROUS FOB BABIES.

The reverse is the case. Nothing makes babies so 6trong and free from "colds" as living jn pure cold air. At the Karitane Hospital, the sick babies deep (after a short preliminary hardening) in rooms where there is a constant broad stream of " night air " whicr often keeps the temperature at freezing point in winter •"rom dusk till dawn. It is hard to get mothers to realise that this is safe and ■beneficial for babies only a few weeks old, if they are provided with suitable bed-clothing and properly tucked in, etc.

EBBOB XVII.

JTHAT THE BABY'S FACE SHOULD BE COVEBED WITH A HAKDKEBCHIEF OR PIECE OF JfCSLIN WHEN SLEEPING IK HIS PKAU,

The mouth and nose should on no account be covered, even by the most open muslin, because any covering imprisons the breath and ' causes the baby to breathe its own exhalations over and over again. This is highly injurious and enfeebling

Ebbob XVIII

STHAT THE KUBSKRY BHOULD BE WABIfED TO

65dbg ob 70deg *ahb

The only time when a baby needs to be in a warmed room i 6 when his clothes are off — that is (1) at bathing time, and (2) when most of his clothing has been removed vn order that he may be left to kick for a spell. Even then the temperature need not be above 55deg or 60deg Fahr., if he is protected from (fraught by means of a low screen. For 23 out pf the 24 hours the ajr need not

be above freezing- point (32deg Fahr.) even for a baby only a few weeks old, co long a& the is properly clad, kept out of direct draught, and provided if necessary with, a hot bottle.

Ebeor XXX.

THAT THESE IS A SPECIAL BISK IN ALLOWING A MALE BABY TO CRT, AS THE STBAIN

TEKDS TO CAUSE BUPTTJBE.

This fallacy often makes mother and irarse nervously anxious to prevent crying. Hence they give the baby his own way day and night, and he soon becomes a spoiled, exacting, fretful little tyrant. If he cries he is given what he wants, whether it be food between meal-times or cuddling in his mother's bed when he ought to be asleep in hie own cot. Both the digestion ,and the nervous system, may be more or less ruined in thjs way

Ekbob XX.

THAT IN THE CASE OF FEMALE BABIES THE NTJBSE^ BHOOXD MASSAGE OB " BREAK DOWN " THE BBEASTS SO AS TO SOFTEN THEM AND PBOMOTE FTTTTJBE DEVELOPMENT. Much, harm and no good resulte from this extraordinary proceeding.

PROMOTION OF HEALTH SOCIETY. x L Tl £? roontkly meeting of the Committee of tt 77 6 -S )eiety for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children was held in the Town Ball on Friday; President — Mra rneomm (presiding), Mesdames Ross Arunoel Allen, King. Harris, Edmond' Walker, Ritehie, Donald, Ramsay, T^K Sidey. Jackson, Carr (hon. secretary), Miss Cohen (acting treasurer), Sister Evelyn. Adjutant Tweed. • J

Dr Mary Stone (hon. secretary of the National Cpuncal of Women ~m Victoria) wote thanking the society for the informatioa and literature bearing on the work carried on in New Zealand by them. Mrs fatrong (one of the vice-presidents) was to read a paper dealing with the work at their next meeting. Dr Stone congratulated the society upon the progress and scope of its work.

The Defence League in Wanganui, having engaged a district nurse, wrote asking for advice and, information. Letters were received from Palmerston North, Hastings, and New Plymouth, the eociety 3 work making good progress in every centre where it is now established Onritfcnurch* is moving to get a third nuree, and hopes to get the assistance of the outlying districts to help in providing the necessary funds, the two nurses at present employed having no time 'to visit these districts.

A letter was received from the head nratress of a school, thanking the society for the advice given, whioh was being acted upon and proving of great benefit to the pupils.

At Lady Plunket's suggestion, Miss Hill, who j« acting as bon. secretary for the purpose of arranging a conference of delegates from all the- branches of the eociety, wrote asking that the names of the delegates be sent in by the* 30th September.— Consideration deferred until next meeting. The Matron, of the Karitane Home reported that there were at present 16 babies in the home. Seven were admitted during the month and five discharged. A guild of girls, organised by Miss Cohen, gave a splendid afternoon's work in sewing for the babies. During tihe month Lady Plunket visited the home, and was <sstremely pleased with* the alterations and general improvements made since her last visit. The Hon. D. Buddo also visited the home, an.l expressed his appreciation of the simple and economical way in which it was being managed. Dr Ernest "Williams gave a lecture- to the nurses on " Infantile Vomiting." The guild of volunteers, which averaged 20 a week, continued to give very valuable assistance to the nurses, doing good work, and the babies were- reaping the benefit of their unselfish devotion. Some of the cases quoted by the matron showed tho remarkable progress made during the few weeks they bad been in the home. The Plunket Nurse reported for themonth: — Number of visits paid, 393 ; number of babies under care, 110 ; number of new babies, 33; number of bottles of standard Jinmanised milk cent out. 1906; number of specials, 3886. The Plunket Nurse's room in Liverpool street ie proving a great benefit to tho community, mothers gladly availing themselves of the opportunity to bring their babies for advice. The gas stove, kindly given by Mrs W. F. Edmond, proves a great source of comfort. Mrs Mathiegon is glad of the -«- Stance of Nurse Ellis, who has completed her training at the Karitane Home, and is now on duty as assistant Plunket nurse. The committee has the arrangements well in hand for the lecture which it has requested Dr Turby King to give in aid of tfe© funds of the society on Thursday, August 19, at the Garrison. Hall. The subjects are ' Health, Sleep, Sanity, and Insanity," and will be illustrated by lantern elides. The expenses of the society, although kept under as much as possible, are fairly heavy, and the committee trusts that the public in its own interests will ifc every support. In order to bring this valuable lecture within the reach of all, the tickets are being sold at Is. Donations are gratefully acknowledged from "A Friend," £20; "Well-wisher," £5; Lady Plunket, £1 ; Hon. D. Buddo. £1 ; Mrs Beveridge. 10s : donations in kind from Mrs Ewen, Mrs J. Roberts, Mrs Cro«s, M-ss WoodhoU'se. Miss Mowatt, Mrs Gilkison. and Mrs Roberts. The maintenance fees received at the Karitane Home amounted to £21 2s 6d for the month.