VERY EARLY DOCTORS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1939, Page 9

VERY EARLY DOCTORS

SPECIALISTS OF 2,000 YEARS AGO.

It is true that babies were never so cared for as they are in these times. -A multitude of mothers call in at the clinics at regular intervals to be sure that their babies are healthy.

Some babies are coddled too much — generally the first-born, because of girl-mother nervousness. However, medical science is at its peak, and not a day passes but some research scientist adds to ’ the height of that peak—it is a progress that never ceases, as in all branches of science.

While the average expectation of life has risen to a point that our forefathers could not attain, it would be wrong to assume that the ancients were ignorant of the essentials in caring for babies. A little over 100 years after the Crucifixion of Christ there was in Rome a Dr. Coranus, who, like many physicians in Rome, was a Greek, The principal part of his practice was devoted to women and children. A doctor of similar tendencies today would either be at a woman’s hospital or a children’s hospital. Wilfred J. Funk, in a recent publication, describes him as "the father of all children's doctors.”

Soranus published advice for mothers, and included such simple hints as: "When your baby first begins to sit up, prop him with the folds of soft garments. Don't let him sit up too long at a time. When he first gets up on his feet, set him against the wall for support. As he advances let him. hold on io a wheeled chair.” Two other items were: "Hollow the bed so that the baby cannot roll off.” . . . "There may be reasons besides hunger if he cries. He may be choking, squeezed, uncomfortable. Something may be pricking him.” Yes, even in Ancient Rome. Egyptian Days. Herodotus, the "father of history.” explored Ihe records of ancient Egypt, lie delved into yellowed papyrus of over 2/100 years before his time. And one of his themes was the way the Egyptian doctors had divided up their work. He wrote: "Each physician is a healer of one disease and no more." That was ■l,OOO years ago. Today we call them "medical specialists.”

So with thousands of years of research and experience in his or her favour, Baby Mine of 1939 should gurgle and chuckle in confidence that all is well. But still research goes on—there is always something more to discover.