Our Babies.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 July 1918, Page 6

Our Babies.

2NTANT MORTALITY STATISTICS,

FURHER IVESTIGATIONS

iLast week we quoted some figures Urought before the Nelson Branch of the Society at its annual meeting toy Mr. Young, M.P. for Waikato. Mr. Young told us that in 1916 there were horn in New Zealand 28,509 children; the total deaths of all ages were 10,586, therefore there ' was a natural increase of population of about 18,000. Of the 10,586 deaths no fewer than 1446 were those of infants under 12 months, and this number exceeded the total number of deaths between the ages of one and 20 years. Mr. Young said that these were very remarkable figures, and he drew the conclusion that the work of the Pluniet Society ,which deals largely with this first year of infant life, was of the -very greatest importance to the State, and was of a most patriotic character. . "While the figures quoted by Mr. Young are remarkable, it will interest our readers to know that, on consult-

ing the latest Official Year Book of New Zealand (1917), it is found that anore than half of the 1446 deaths (viz. 770) of infants under 12 months, which occurred in 1916, took place in the first month.

From this it -would appear that the first month of a baby's life is the most critical and dangerous; and in this particular month the Plunket Nurse rarely comes into intimate touch with the infant.

Again, when we examine the causes of death, given in the Official Year Book, it is found that more than a quarter of the 1446 infants (viz. 381) •who died under one year of age in 1916 were certified as having died from Prematurity; while what Is known as the great scourge of Infancy —viz., Infantile Diarrhoea —accounts for only about a month of the total deaths under 12 months. No record is given of the number of stillbirths, but if that were added to the number of deaths from prematurity it would be seen what a terrible loss of human life is Sue to failure on the part of the parents before the baby is born. It was somewhat of a shock to find that in the early days of the war 40 per cent, of our young men offering

for the front -were rejected as physic--1 ally unfit. If such a laTge proportion 1 of our men were judged unfit to serve I their country, the presumption was that at least an equal proportion of our women would be unfit to fulfi!7ln the best way, the duties of motherhood, seeing that tEe boys and girls must have been brought up under similar conditions. That this presumption is true is borne out by the figures quoted above from the Official Year Book.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO COMBAT THIS LOSS OF INFANT LIFE? An American Example. Much can be done by systematic Pre-Natal Care. In Boston, U.S.A., great attention bas been given to supplying the poor with proper care ana supervision for the expectant mother. Owing to the devoted and enthusiastic efforts and organising power of Mrs. "William Lowell Putnam and other ladies a most complete scheme is in operation in the poorer quarters, and the Tesults have been most remarkable. The troubles and risks of "pre-mother-hood" and child-birth have been enormously lessened, and breast-feeding has become tlie rule in quarters where it was exceptional, while the reduction in infantile sickness and mortality has been no less striking. Th,e results have so greatly impressed authorities elsewhere that there are now few countries where steps are not being taken with a view to training arid safeguarding prospective mothers. Unfortunately, the help and teaching offered rarely extends beyond the poorer classes, though the need of the so-called "poor and ignorant" is not greater in these matters than the need of the "ignorant and well-to-do." <K THE NEW ZEALAND AIM. jj Our aim ought tQ 6g to establish j tfcorougilout Mew Zealand Such a | scheme of "Pre-Natal Care" as would practically ensure the safety and wellbeing of mothers of all classes, it was with this end in view that the Government published, in conjunction with the Society, the little book "The Expectant Mother and Baby's First Month," for free issue to all -married women. With the aid of this, and the services of the Plunkef Nurses, most Of the early troubles and difficulties in connection with motherhood and babyhood could be obviated. They certainly will be obviated if the mothers will do their part by merely making use of the instruction; training, belp, and supervision offered to them by the Society throughout the prenatal period and afterwards.