DIONNE QUINTUPLETS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1938, Page 7

DIONNE QUINTUPLETS

GREAT SERVICE FOR CHILD WELFARE. OTTAWA. The Dionne quintuplets, living in their home at Callander, Ontario, have done more to advance child welfare than anything else in the last five years, Dr. Allan R. Dafoe, physician to the famous family, told a public meeting here recently. One important result of the birth of the quintuplets, he said, was that deaths among premature children had declined considerably. It had also started a widespread adoption of babies in Canada and other countries.

Referring to the popularity of the famous “Quints,” Dr Dafoe stated that to date approximately 1,500,000 people had journeyed to Callander to see them; 150,000 visitors saw them in 19.35, 220,000 in 19,36, 450,000 in 19.37 and to date this year 400,000 had paid their homages to the five little girls. Dr. Dafoe indulged in some home truths. “All the world loves a baby,” he said, “and when you get five of them it is easy to understand how much they arc admired. Proper care and diet arc the most effective things in the world for children. Children must have a happy time to get along best. They must not see their parents or nurses indulging in quarrels. If you have an unhealthy home, you usually have unhealthy children.”