BABIES IN INDIA.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 351, 4 February 1937, Page 2

BABIES IN INDIA.

GROWTH OF PLUNKET SYSTEM. Doctor and Nurse Tell Of • Present Conditions. Life jn a town of Northern India is not devoid of many modern Amenities, nor is it unattractive, according to two ladies |;t present spending a holiday In Christchurch. They 6re Dr. B. J. Allen, an American, and Miss E. Kramer, a Dutch nurse. Miss Cramter has lived in India since 1919, and Dr. Allen since 1907. In Bn interview With h representative of "The Press” yesterday they described some of their work in that country. Miss Kramer was' Interested in th<

Plunket system several years ago. and took a training course in London tn 1926. She was the first person to introduce the system in India, where is it gradually becoming more popalar. A training centre was established in Ludlhlana, and while hens she intends to take a refreehtr course in Dunedin before koing back to India. Malnutrition. Dr. Allen and Misa Kramer have lived for some time tn Musoorie, at an altitude of 7500 feet, and they conduct a health sanatorium there. They believe in dietary treatment, and concentrate on the correct proportions Of four essentials.—light, water, sun, and diet. The sanatorium was opened primarily for the treatment of white people, but now there are as many high caste black

patients. "Malnutrition is very bad throughout India,” taid Miss Kramer. "This is probably partly through the poor quality of the soil. “Almost everybody suffers from malaria at some time or another. Although a cure was recently found, the treatment has to be given each time the infection breaks out. Beesute of the action of the malaria on the blood, many people in India are anaemic." Low Marriage Agej . Dr. Allen taid that the mortality rate of babies Was the highest in the world. Miss Kramer said that the low marriage age, and the ignorance of the young mothers were important contributing factors to this state of affairs.'. “The nursing profession is going ahead as the Hindu caste is breaking down,” she said. “This breaking-down of caste is very noticeable. Fifteen years ago Brahmin would not.have eaten a meal we prepared fog him. In many cases s now. Brahmins will sit with and eat meals prepared by others.” Miss Kramer was convinced that Gandhi had done a lot of good in this and other ways'. Many changes have come to Northern India in the past few years, and not the least of them is in the mode Of transport. When Dr. Allen was first in India she wat carried in a dhandl—the equivalent of a rickshaw —supported on the shoulders of four or six carriers, who took turns. Now they can travel in modern cars. In the evening!.' they can attend one of the three picture theatres at Musoqtie, go to a cabaret or listen-in to the Delhi radio station, or on shortwave, to London and America.

Dr. Allen visited New Zealand five years ago. She and Miss Kramer intend to sail in April for America, before returning to India.