THE PLUNKET SYSTEM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 542, 27 May 1933, Page 3

THE PLUNKET SYSTEM

NEW ZEALAND BABIES ARE REGULARLY MEASURED. Christchurch medical men are not inclined. to take much notice of the suggestion that the Lindbergh baby is still alive and that the/ autopsy performed on the baby found in New Jersey disclosed different measurements from those of the real Lindbergh child. They pointed out to-day that where children are horn in maternity hospitals in America very complete records are taken. It would be quite likely that a complete chart of the Lindbergh child's growth history would be available and, in view of the importance of the case, any serious diversity between the actual measurements and the chart would have been quickly noticed. Careful measurements are taken by Plunket nurses in the Dominion in cases which come under their care. While these are not taken for identification purposes, they could well be used for that purpose in an emergency. Riegularly Measured. Babies which are reared on the Plunket system are measured and weighed immediately after birth and for the first year of their lives regular records .are kept. If the child has any deformities they are at once known and suitable corrective measures can be taken. In the case of normal children, measurements are taken at fairly long intervals, but if the child shows development along lines other than normia.1, measurements are taken frequently, so that the effect of the treatment can be gauged. Many children jreceive assistance from thePlunket. nurses right up till the time that they commence going to

school. They are not exammed as often as are children in their first year, but occasionaT visits enable the nurses to obtain records and keep their development under super vision. It was stated by a medical man today that in America and Germany, where there are very large maternity hospdtalsj special identification systems have been evolved. One of these is the taking of footprints immediately a child is horn. It is believed that footprints are like fingerprints in that they never change through lif e. Thus there is no possibility of babies being handed over to the wrong parents.