OUR BABIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 22, 1 May 1916, Page 2

OUR BABIES.

(By Hygeia.) Published under the auspices of the Uo>ul New Zealand Society f.n the Health of Women and Children. “It is wiser to put up a feuce at cllG top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom. ' MUS T we sleep with open WINDOWS? The above is the translated title oi a French book of over 200 pages, published in Paris by Dr. Nicholas iW kimre. Naturally, the doctor tnes to excuse himself, and almost apolo<n«es for putting such an obvious i>aienic duty in the form of a question,; but he very rightly maintains that there is no use pretending m everyone is a “fresh-air convert” even now, and there is no denying that very few people open their windows half wide enough either in France o: New Zealand. The truth is that, in spite of the I proof afforded by the splendid success of open-air Sanatoria for Consumption, and for all forms of disease and delicacy, and the benefit of open-air schoolrooms—in spite of these clear and unmistakable evidences as to the invigorating and restorative oi keeping the air of all living rooms fresh, pure, and cool, most of our homes still justify the lines of Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes;

God lent his creatures light and air And waters open to the skies; Man locks him in a stiffling lair. And wonders why his brother d.os. Or. Delpierro aptly quotes the astute saying of Machiavelli: “Prejudices Have Deeper Roots Than

Principles.” I shall now make a free translation of a few paragraphs in the hope of helping some mothers to root out their fears and prejudices as to fresh air in their homes, for the health of themselves and their little ones. 1 have every confidence in making this, appeal, because parents can be trusted to do much for; the rake of thenchildren that they would lie indifferent to as regards themselves. THE ..GREAT REFORM. Translation from Dr. Delpicrre The first object of any -Inquiry into tlie open-window question is to ascertain man’s present attitude towards fresh air : in the course of. his life, especially fresh air throughout the night. We know that to conserve our health the first requirement is to give our lungs the quality and quantity of air which is their imperious need. This seems simple enough at firstsight, and we might easily persuade ourselves that we are all of one mind, and quite in accord with the laws of health. But stop a moment! When we look round and take note of what people are actually doing as to fresh air in the home, we see at once that for the most part they are living in direct defiance of the laws of Nature. Indeed, it' 1 would he difficult to find any in .iter in which man shows himself so indifferent as he is towards the quality of the air he breathes. He knows in a way that- pure, fresh air is good for him, but he does not de;gu to give any serious attention to ensuring this boom for himself and Ids family. Yet the provision of fresh air is entitled to all our regard and all our solicitude. \ •

We shall try our host to make, clear the sacrifice of health and vigour I which results from the mistakes made every day in relation to air-supply, and we shall spare no pains to point out the remedy. We wish to make everyone share our profound and sincere conviction that the question of the wide-open window at night is one of capital importance —a question of universal and constant interest.

Of course, we all know how much lias already been said on the subject, but we know also that to make our work useful and fruitful we are in duty bound to repeat what others have said. In this matter every doctor has a duty to fulfil towards society. We know that our task is not an easy one, but we have the deep conviction that it is necessary to overcome irrational prejudices against fresh air in the home, which bar .the march of human progress and lower the health and vigour of the nation. History shows that popular prejudice lias stood in the way of all reforms, and such prejudices have to be overcome.