THE SOCIETY FOR THE HEALTH

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 37, 5 June 1914, Page 3

THE SOCIETY FOR THE HEALTH

OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

The Dunedin Society’s annual report for the year ending March 31 # 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 lit herself for the perfect fulfilment of the natural calls of motherhood, both before and after child-birth and especially to advocate and promote the breast-feed-ing 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 how to estimate the requirements of their children at the ver.Y- beginning of life, and see that the requisite quantity 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 “Plunkct nurses”), being an increase of over 400 ou the previous year’s total. The number of visits paid to the homes of mothers was 7534, 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, gs iu the Dunedin district alois, nearly 77,000 bottles were sent out during the year from the Taieri and Peninsula dairy factory.

The Karitane Hospital, in Dunedin, is conducted by the Society, and used las the training school for the nurses, fifth-year medical students, and for students in household science. During the year, 128 babies wet'© under treatment here, and 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 of 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 specialty oil inquiring into New Zealand’s low infant deathrate. After discussing and comparing various conditions and causes, climatical and sanitary, which miglit 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. then is the explanation of this phenomenon?” he 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 infant before birth and during the period of infancy—really an attempt to roar 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, lias been achieved by the education of the people by taking to the home the scientific principles which underlie our* earliest existence.”

The expenses of the Society, which now amount to nearly £7OOO a year, are defrayed by subscriptions, donations, ami Government aid. In addition, “.many members give their time, their money, and, best of all, themselves, to the cause for which the Society exists.” We have no hesitation in commending the objects of the Society to the practical sympathy of our readers.