OBSTETRICAL SOCIETY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 35, 4 May 1927, Page 5

OBSTETRICAL SOCIETY

STUDY IN NEW ZEALAND Most women will be interested to hear that for a year past there has been a movement within the ranks of tne medical profession in New Zealand toward forming an obstetrical society! for the concerted study of midwifery matters in the Dominion. Such a society has existed for many years in threat Britain, which has organised research work, scientific meetings, etc., to the great benefit of women But it has been decided that it is not enough to read reports of this society, but that the time has come for a branch in this country, which will investigate the special problems here, and correlate their efforts. Despite the fact that the prospective New Zealand members were scattered up and down an area as large as all England and Scotland put together, some 200 doctors have decided to follow the scientific lead of the societies in the Mother Country, and have associated themselves into a New Zealand Obstetrical Society, with the definite object of bettering the conditions of midwifery in New Zealand (states a Southern exchange). It is realised that economic questions, such as housing, domestic help, and the everincreasing competition and tension of modern life must react more or less on the mothers of the Dominion, also that if the Dominion is to progress children must continue to be born in back-block rural areas far from the conveniences of well-equipped mater nity hospitals and clinics. Therefore every wise citizen will welcome the. organisation of these doctors to study the problems of twentieth century midwifery. as it applies to New Zealand conditions, and to correlate the services of country and city practitioners alike. It is understood that the activities of the new society will include a system of recording which will provide useful statistical material for re r search purposes, and by printed transactions country members will be kept closely in touch with the work of the centres. To lessen the disorders caused by ignorance, the society has printed a standard card setting forth elementary rules of maternal hygiene and the need for ante-natal supervision. As members of the society will hand one such card to each patient on engagement, a simple regime of public education is assured. In fact, the members of the society have pledged themselves to a vast amount of gratuitous work for the benefit of the womenkind of this Dominion.