The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-04-06
~ DR.. r. TRULY KING.
The Worlds Foremost Baby Saving
Expert,

Baby saving work in New Zealand,
by which infantile mortality has been
reduced to SO low a rate, has grown
from very humble origins. We started
cur campaign with nurse and a tele-
phone. This was between II and Is
years ago. Our aim was simply to
make accessible to all mothers needing
advice nurses specially and authorita-
lively trained in the essentials for
health of mother and child. To get
such nurse into every household
where there were babies was our ulti-
mate goal. This nurse was intended
to do away with the traditional hand
ing on of error from generation to
generation, by superseding mere guild
ance of the grandmother or other we'll
meaning relation or friends. The nurse
vas to give mothers of all classes, es-
pocially to the young wife struggling
with the problems of rearing her first
child, the reliable help and guidance
that can be supplied as the outcome
of what has been definitely arrived at
as the best course to pursue.
The success of the first nurse led to
the forming of committee to carry
on the work and to extend it. Intelli-
gent, public-sp people of all
classes co-operated, and the organiZa-
ticn received the ardent and whole
hearted support and help of Lord and
Lady Plunkett, Lord Plunkett being
then governor Of New Zealand. This
was IL years ago. We had a certain
re
be ginning. and as the work made good,
other doctors and dentists lent a help
ing hand, including most of our uni
Nersity professors. Thus the spread of
the movement became consistent and
steady throughout the country.
Branch societies were formed in ev-
cry community these branches consist
ing of from Is to IS of the most able
and intelligent representative women
m every class. There are now be-
tween 20 and so of these branch COM
mlttees, and with the nurses attached
I, them, known as "Punkett Nurses"
they cover the districts in which they
are situated. However. the salaried Of
ficers of the society form only a small
portion of its workers. Many members
of all. themselves to the cause of
mother and child, and by this most
potent of all means contribute to the
maintenance of health and the pre-
Nenton of disease The nurses cover
their assigned districts, not only at
tending to mothers who visit conven-
iently situated "Plunkett rooms" to
have their babies weighed, etc. and
visiting them regularly in their homes,
but also holding meetings from time to
time and giving demonstrations of
child care. In addition it is the duty
of each nurse to keep in touch by cor
respondence with inquiring mothers,
especially those who live in the more
Inaccessible parts of the country. Ev-
cry woman in the district is entitled to
the services of one of these nurses
without charge, but contributions to-
wards the society's fund are always
welcome.
One of our first steps was to found
a baby hospital at Dunedn--the med =
ical center for o,rr university.
This hospital is mainly an educa-
tional center, playing Of course an i'm
pcrtant role in the direct saving of
child life, but intended broadly to
serve as a training center not only for
Iiunkett nurses but also for the teach
Ing OF medical and domestic science
students and for educating the public
who are encouraged to visit the insti-
tuition. Visitors receive every attention
from the nurses.
Finally, we have brought into our
service every means Of printed publ
city available for the work of education
IN mothercraft. For II years the soci-
ETY. has Mad one definite. consistent
authoritative weekly column. Our
Babies published in leading news
papers throughout New Zealand. In