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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

OI^DREN’S BUREAU
% jfelA C. LATHROP. Chief

NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY FOR
THE HEALTH OF WOMEN
AND CHILDREN
AN EXAMPLE OF METHODS^ OF
BABY-SAVING WORK IN SMALL
TOWNS AND RURAL DISTRICTS

INFANT MORTALITY SERIES, No. 2
Bureau Publication, No. 6

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1914

Ic'.SSc


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CONTENTS.
Page.

Letter of transmittal..............................................................................
What the society has accomplished....................... - ...........................
Territory in which the society works........................................ ........
How the results have been accomplished— - ........ .........................
Complete birth registration an aid in society’s work..............
Comprehensive policy of society.................................................
Local committees.................. - .................................................... *
Plunket nurses...............................................................................
“ Our Babies” columns......... ..............................- - * - .................
Karitane-Harris Hospital............................................... .
Publications.......................................................................... ; |' '
Conclusion....................................................... ......................................
A ppendix............................................. - ........... .......................«•
Rules of membership of the society........................................ ..
Rules for the Plunket nurses.......................................... ..........
Hints for the general guidance of Plunket nurses..................
Public health work in New Z e a la n d ......................................

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36>2--1
l i s l e

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
U. S.

D

epartm ent

of

L abor,

Ch il d r e n ’s B

ureau,

Washington, D. C., March 30,1914.
S i r : I have the honor to transmit herewith a report concerning the
work of the New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and
Children.
Through the courtesy of the State Department the work of the
society was brought to the attention of this bureau by a report of the
American consul general at Auckland, Mr. William A. Prickitt. The
infant mortality rate of New Zealand has been for some time recog­
nized as the lowest of any country in the world and it is stated that
recent further reductions are due in large measure to the activity of
this society. As an example of its value, the consul general states
that the work of the society has reduced infant mortality in Dunedin
a residential city of about 60,000 inhabitants, 50 per cent during five
years, from 1907 to 1912. Because of the absence of adequate birth
and death registration in the United States, the infant death rate of
fhis country, as a whole, is unknown, but estimates tend to show that
it is at least twice the rate in New Zealand, which the registrar general
of that country reported in 1912 to be 51 per 1,000. New Zealand,
like certain of our States, is a young and vigorous country with a
scattered population and with no large cities, and there is every
reason to believe that similar volunteer effort in this country would
produce similar results. In view of the marked and growing interest
in the preservation of infant health in the smaller cities and rural
communities of the United States, I believe that the following account
of the methods of the New Zealand society is especially timely. It
will be seen that public interest is strongly enlisted in its efforts.
Seventy volunteer committees in as many districts maintain the
educational and nursing work in conjunction with the central office,
and the Government itself assists in various ways. The detailed
statement which follows is not offered for the purpose of urging exact
reproduction of the New Zealand organization, but rather to stimulate
interest in working out whatever methods are practicable locally for
securing the same results which New Zealand secures.
This report has been prepared by Mrs. Etta R. Goodwin, of the
Children’s Bureau.
Very respectfully,
Hon. W i l l i a m B. W i l s o n ,
Secretary o f Labor.


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NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY FOR THE HEALTH OF WOMEN AND
CHILDREN*
W H A T T H E S O C IE T Y H AS A C C O M P L ISH E D .

The Society for the Health of Women and Children was founded
in New Zealand in 1907 to continue and extend a health mission
among mothers which had been started by Dr. F. Truby King, med­
ical superintendent of the Government “ Seacliff ” Mental Hospital at
Dunedin. Although the infant death rate in New Zealand was one
of the most favorable in the world, it was felt that it was too high,
and with this conviction Dr. Truby King made a plea for educa­
tional work in his statement that a “ generally diffused knowledge
and recognition of infant requirements and maternal duties would
save the community one life per diem, and would correspondingly
increase the strength and vitality of the rising generation.”
For several years the society made no attempt to call attention to
the possible relation between its work and the steady decrease which
was taking place in the infant death rate in New Zealand. But
after five years of effort it seemed safe to take some share of the
credit for the reduction, and, accordingly, the report of the Dunedin
branch of the society for 1913 points out the lowering of the rate
which has taken place since the society began its work and gives as
an illustration the figures for Dunedin, a city which in 1911 had a
population of 41,529 (with suburbs, 64,237).
Taking the seven years from 1900 to 1907, the average death rate among children
under 1 year in Dunedin and suburbs was 8 per cent. For the last five years the
average has been 6.5 per cent; for the last three years, 6 per cent; for the last two
years, 5 per cent; and for the last year (1911), 4 per cent.

More recent figures, as shown in the Official Yearbook for New
Zealand for 1913, give Dunedin an infantile death rate of only 3.8 for
every 100 births in 1912.
The diagram on the following page, which is also taken from the
report of the society, shows the figures for Dunedin in striking con­
trast with rates for several of the large cities of Europe.
The report explains that the reason for contrasting groups of years
instead of giving individual years for Dunedin is to show the stable
and sustained decline in the infantile death rate from 1907 onward.
The fall would have appeared more striking had the four later periods
been compared, not with the average for the preceding seven years
but only with the year 1907, when the rate was 9.5 per 100 births.
This contrast, however, would have been misleading.


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B E R L IN (1910)

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N E W ZEALAN D SOCIETY FOR H E A L T H OF W O M E N AN D C H ILD R E N .

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N E W ZEALAN D SOCIETY FOR H E A L T H OF W O M E N AN D CH ILD R E N .

T

In order fully to realize what a remarkable work has been accom­
plished it will be significant to compare the figures with the rates of
some of the States and cities in the United States. The registration
of births in the United States is so incomplete that no figures for our
country as a whole can be quoted in discussions of birth and death
rates. In a few States and individual cities, however, the registra­
tion, although not complete, is good enough to furnish figures which
may be compared with those for New Zealand in order to study the
relative success of the two areas in preserving the lives of their babies.
The following rates are quoted from the report of the Bureau of the
Census, Mortality Statistics, 1911, from the New Zealand reports, and
from the Sixty-ninth Report of Births, Marriages, and Deaths in
Massachusetts'
Deaths of
infants un­
der 1 year
for every
100 births,
1910.
New Zealand............................................

iB. l

STATES.

12.7
1L 6

Dunedin.....................................................
Los Angeles, Cal.......................................
Bridgeport, Conn.....................................
New Britain, Conn...................................
New Haven, Conn...................................
Stamford, Conn........................................
Washington, D. C....................................
Indianapolis, Ind.....................................
Boston,*Mass.............................................
Brockton, Mass.........................................
Fall River, Mass.......................................
Lawrence, Mass........................................
Lowell, Mass..............................................
Lynn, Mass...............................................

3. 8
9. 7
12.3
2 15.1
10.8
2 13.1
15.2
12.3
12.6
*10.2
18.6
2 16. 8
23.1
2 10.0

Deaths of
infants un­
der 1 year
for every
100 births,
1910.
cities—continued.

Malden, Mass............................................
New Bedford, Mass.................................
Somerville, Mass......................................
Springfield', Mass......................................
Worcester, Mass........................................
Detroit, Mich............................................
Grand Rapids, Mich................................
Kansas City, Mo.......................................
St. Louis, Mb............................................

2 9.0
2 17.9
2 10.2
2 12.5
13.7
17.9
12.2
15.4
11.5
12 6

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1 For 1912.
2 Sixty-ninth Report of Births, Marriages, and Deaths in Massachusetts. These cities were chosen in
order that an opportunity might be given to compare the New Zealand rates with cities in the United
States in approximately the same population class as the New Zealand cities.
8 The report of the New York State Department of Health shows a reduction to 10.5 per 100 births in
1912.

T E R R IT O R Y IN W H I C H S O C IE T Y W O R K S .

In estimating the problem with which the health agencies in New
Zealand have to deal, and in judging the practicability of methods
with reference to their application to the problems of the United
States, it is interesting to remember that in its youth" as a country
(actual settlement was not begun until 1839), in its size, and in the
number of its people, New Zealand is not dissimilar to some of the
States in the United States. The length of the whole group of
islands is 1,000 miles and the extreme width is 180 miles. The area
in square miles is 104,751 and the population was 1,071,428 in 1911.


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8

N E W ZE A LA N D SOCIETY FOR H E A L T H OE W O M E N AN D CH ILD R E N .

An agency undertaking to raise the standard of health finds the
ground well prepared in New Zealand. A writer in speaking of the
country says that it is like a big family.1 It is easy to understand
what he means when an examination is made of the reports and pub­
lications of the various governmental, semigovernmental, and private
agencies engaged in betterment work. There is a note in these
reports which testifies to a general spirit of cooperation, a neighborly
interest in the small intimate concerns of the community, and an
encouragement of mutual helpfulness. As the chief interest of the
individual-family is centered upon the baby, the interest of the whole
community in the welfare of infants seems to have been deepened by
the development of the family spirit in New Zealand.
The influence and aid of the Government is available in all benevo­
lent activities.2 The most interesting features of the public health
work for consideration in connection with our subject are: A system
of State registration of nurses; registration of mid wives; Govern­
ment maternity hospitals; supervision of infant asylums and kindred
institutions; and complete registration of births.
H O W T H E R E S U L T S H A V E B E E N A C C O M P L IS H E D .

When Dr. Truby King organized the society he was fortunate
enough to gain for it the interest of the former governor of New
Zealand and Lady Plunket. Lord Plunket issued a pamphlet set­
ting forth the necessity for such a mission and appealing to all
classes to join the society, “ for the sake of women and children, for
the advancement of the Dominion, and for the honor of the Empire.”
Lady Plunket threw herself whole-heartedly into the work, showing
her intense interest by lecturing, demonstrating, and personally
helping the mothers and babies. As a mark of appreciation of her
work the nurses of the society were given the name “ Plunket nurses.”
The society itself is often referred to as the “ Plunket society.”
The society is not only supervised by the Government, which
inspects the reports and balance sheets of each branch, passes upon
proposals to form new branches, and approves the appointment of
nurses, but it receives financial aid. This is a feature which it would
not be practicable to copy in the United States, as it would be con­
trary to provisions in some of the State constitutions-. The assist­
ance, moreover, is incidental and has no effect upon the importance
of the society as a model for volunteer effort.
City and Government officials cooperate cordially with the society
whenever occasion arises. As an instance of this, the mayor of
Dunedin grants the use of the council chamber once a month for the
meetings. The post office also helps by setting aside a room f6r the
use of the Plunket nurses.
1 Max Herz, New Zealand.


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2See Appendix, p. 17.

N E W ZEALAN D SOCIETY FOB H E A L T H OF W O M E N A N D CH ILD R E N .

COM PLETE

B IR TH

R EG ISTRATIO N AN
WORK.

AID

9

IN T H E SOCIETY’ S

New Zealand bas incorporated in its plan of government some of
the best traditions of the older countries. Thus, in spite of its youth
as a country, it has established so perfect a system of birth registration
that the figures are accepted by the authorities in European countries.
In this, New Zealand stands in striking contrast to the United States,
which, of all the civilized countries, has no general system of accurate
registration. The fact that births and deaths are properly recorded
has aided the health society in every stage of its work and has made
it possible at all times to gauge the effect of the work in reducing the
number of infant deaths.
C O M PREH EN SIVE POLICY OF T H E SOCIETY.

The functions of the society are outlined in the report for 1913 as
follows:
(1) To uphold the sacredness of the body and the duty of health; to inculcate a
lofty view of the responsibilities of maternity and the duty of every mother to fit
herself for the perfect fulfillment of the natural calls of motherhood, both before and
after childbirth, and especially to advocate and promote the breastfeeding of infants.
(2) To acquire accurate information and knowledge on matters affecting the health
of women and children, and to disseminate such knowledge through the agency of
its members, nurses, and others, b y means of the natural handing on from one recipient
or beneficiary to another, and the use of such agencies as periodical meetings at mem­
bers’ houses, or elsewhere, demonstrations, lectures, correspondence, newspaper
articles, pamphlets, books, etc.
(3) To employ especially trained and qualified nurses, to be called Plunket nurses,
whose duty it w ill be to give sound, reliable, instruction, advice, and assistance’
gratis, to any member of the community desiring such services, on matters affecting
the health and well-being of women, especially during pregnancy and while nursing
infants, and on matters affecting the health and well-being of children; and also to
endeavor to educate and help parents and others in a practical way in domestic hygiene
in general—all these things being done with a view to conserving the health and
strength of the rising generation, and rendering both mother and offspring hardy,
healthy, and resistive to disease.
(4) To promote legislative reform in matters pertaining to the health of women and
children.
(5) To cooperate with any present or future organizations which are working for
any of the foregoing or cognate objects.

Further definition of tbe aims of tbe society is embodied in a speech
delivered at tbe annua,! meeting in 1912.
The society is less concerned in reducing the death rate than in improving the
health of the people. As a health society, we are more interested in firm ly establish­
ing the all-round fitness of the 24,000 or 25,000 annual new arrivals who w ill five than
we are in reducing the potential deaths from 2,000 to 1,000. However, the problems
are practically identical, since the simple hygienic measures which tend to prevent
death in babyhood are also the measures which lay the foundations of strong and
healthy minds in sound enduring bodies for those who survive to be our future men
and women.
35094°— 14----- 2


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10

N E W ZEALAN D SOCIETY FOR H E A L T H OF W O M E N A N D C H ILD R E N .

It will be seen that the work of the society is mainly educational.
It is felt that this education should be free because it is in the highest
interest of the state that as far as possible every woman in the
Dominion should be induced to avail herself of the services offered
by the society with a view to the betterment of the race, the recipient
herself being always regarded as a potential health advocate and
teacher. Furthermore, the society takes the stand thal its functions
while broadly humanitarian are not patronizing or charitable, nor
even in the ordinary sense philanthropic, but are essentially patriotic
and educational.
The society is largely, officered by women; the president, vice
president, the 22 members oi the committee, as well as the heads
of the numerous branches of the society, all are women.
LOCAL COM M ITTEES.

The society now has eight branches, four in the north island and
four in the south island. Local committees, with a membership of
15 or 20, have been organized in every township where a body of
earnest women could be interested. About 70 of these local com­
mittees are now in .existence.
In organizing the committees it has been the aim to make them
as representative as possible, to have all religious sects and all
classes in the community participate.
The local committees arrange for the nurses' visits and between
the visits carry on the work. There is an endeavor to develop the
spirit of service, and there are many women who, having gained
knowledge and received benefits themselves, prove willing and effi­
cient in assisting their neighbors, and who generously and gratui­
tously carry on the functions of a Plunket nurse. The committees
are encouraged to cooperate with educational authorities with a view
to kindling and quickening the interest, feeling, and capabilities of
girls in the direction of home life, especially in matters affecting their
own health and happiness and bearing on the care and nurture of
babies and little children.
P LU N K E T N U R SE S.1

The main function of the Plunket nurse is sympathetically and
tactfully to educate and help parents and others in a practical way
in the hygiene of the home and nursery, with a view to conserving the
health of the whole family while directing especial attention to the
needs of the mother and offspring. The nurses appointed are either
general hospital nurses with a three-months' special training at the
society’s hospital or registered maternity nurses. Twenty-two
nurses are now employed.
^


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1See Appendix, pp. 15 to 17.

N E W ZEALAN D SOCIETY POE H E A L T H OF W O M E N AND CH ILD R E N .

11

The nurse is expected to work within a radius of about 50 miles.
She is resident at the center and makes periodical visits to the neigh­
boring towns and outlying districts every week, every month, every
quarter, or every six months or so, according to circumstances. The
local committees make arrangements for the nurse’s visit, and her
time is spent in visiting schools, attending mothers’ meetings, giving
demonstrations, visiting homes, etc.
The nurse whenever possible gives * living” demonstrations. It
has been found that in interesting young girls in the care and nurture
of babies and young children nothing is so effectual as having a live
winsome baby brought into the classroom.
Correspondence with mothers in country districts too remote to be
visited often is a part of the duty of the nurse. It is evident from
the reports of the society that there is every encouragement for a
father or mother to write freely to the society for advice. Appar­
ently the personal note has been preserved, and the society has been
able to avoid all methods which will be likely to repel or discourage.
The services of the nurse are free to any member of the community,
rich or poor. At the same time parents who could afford to pay for
service are encouraged to make a contribution to the society and
thus assist in broadening the work.
It is the nurse’s first duty to inculcate the importance of breast
feeding and to try to establish it.
Nurses are asked to discourage the use of the dummy and the
long-tube feeding bottle. In keeping with its policy to promote
legislative reform the society in its third annual conference passed a
resolution urging the enactment of legislation to prevent the use of
these two discredited articles.
The nurse may be consulted by expectant mothers. This is
considered an important phase of her work and one that is particularly
consistent with the educational objects of the society.
In cases of emergency the nurse may act as a maternity nurse.
But under no circumstances in such cases is she permitted to stay
with the case more than 24 hours.
A nurse is in regular attendance at what is called the “ Plunket
room,” in Dunedin. This seems to correspond with what are known
as baby clinics or conferences in the United States. In this room
babies are weighed and examined, with the particular object of
determining whether they are getting the right quantity of food,
and, in the case of bottle-fed babies, whether the imlk preparation
upon which they are being fed is agreeing with them.
“ OUR B A B IE S ” COLUMNS.

; The society at the beginning of its existence adopted a method of
giving publicity to helpful suggestions and discussions dealing with


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12

N E W ZEALAN D SOCIETY FOR H E A L T H OF W O M E N A N D C H ILD R E N .

the health of babies which is worthy of especial note. This consists
in publishing, through the courtesy of the newspapers, a weekly column
(sometimes as much as two columns) of advice on the care of babies.
It is known as the “ Our Babies” column. The circulation of these
columns at the time of the last report of the society was at least
200,000, and by one channel or another they reach practically every
home in the Dominion. At one time it was hoped that with the
extension of the Plunket nursing and the publication of the society's
comprehensive book, “ Feeding and Care of Baby,” the issue of the
“ Our Babies” columns could be reduced to an article once a month.
This suggestion, however, aroused emphatic protest; the column
has proved its usefulness and its weekly appearance is more than
justified.
The column is headed “ Our Babies, b y Hygeia,” with the motto
“ It is better to put a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain
an ambulance at the bottom.” Then follow the addresses and tele­
phone numbers of all the Plunket nurses and those of the secretaries
of the society. The statement that the Plunket nurses’ services are
free is brought out prominently. The column also calls attention to
the fact that the society’s book, “ What Baby Needs,” can be obtained
from the nurses, the matron of the Karitane-Harris Hospital, the
honorary secretaries, and the leading booksellers throughout the
Kingdom, at the price of 6d. or, when posted, 7d. The column con­
tains articles on such subjects as “ The use and abuse of aperients,”
“ Mastication,” “ Thefeeding of babies in special relation to diarrhea.”
Letters from correspondents are published and the inquiries answered.
It is intended that the articles in the “ Our Babies” columns should
supplement the instructions in the society’s book, “ Feeding and Care
of Baby,” and the book contains a note suggesting that the articles
as they appear should be cut out of the newspaper and pasted in the
book.
The “ Our Babies” column is not the only means by which the
public is kept informed of the activity of the society. The newspapers
print extensive accounts of all the monthly meetings and give space
to any matter which relates to the work.
K A R IT A N E -H A R R IS H OSPITAL.

The society’s hospital is the only baby hospital in the Dominion,
and in some respects it is the only one of its kind in the world. The
unique feature consists in providing accommodations not only for the
babies but, in many instances, for the mothers of the babies as well.
It is felt that when a breast-fed baby is not thriving it should be
weighed before and after feeding to ascertain exactly how much milk
the mother is providing. B y having a mother remain in the hospital
with her baby in such a case the hospital authorities can attend to
such weighings very carefully and can study the case with thorough-


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N E W ZEALAN D SOCIETY FOR H E A L T H OF W O M E N AN D C H ILD R E N .

13

ness. Moreover, a week’s freedom from care and worry, if the rest
be taken in time, will often make all the difference between health
and ill health to both mother and child, and will often secure breast
feeding.
Dr. Truby King, in an address given in London in August, 1913,
before the English-speaking Conference on Infant Mortality, made the
following reference to the work of the hospital:
In one sense the healing of babies is the least important aspect of our hospital work.
The institution is a school for mothers, an ever-open object lesson, b y means of which
some thousands of visitors of all classes see and are taught personally every year the
essentials for healthy motherhood and babyhood, while mothers who have any trouble
with their babies are encouraged to become inmates for a week or 10 days, so that
they may be set upon the right track.
Not only is the hospital held available for the teaching of actual mothers, but we
encourage potential mothers—girls in their teens and expectant mothers— to attend
weekly classes and demonstrations, or to enter the institution for a short course of
training. Further, a guild of 60 girls was organized some years ago, each to spend
an afternoon once a month handling and looking after the babies in the grounds, thus
helping to provide the “ mothering” element, apt to be lacking in institutions, and
at the same time implanting and developing motherly tendencies and aptitudes in
the girls themselves.
>

The hospital was first started in a small cottage. By a gift from
Mr. Wolf Harris, of London, in 1910 the society acquired the present
house and grounds.
PUBLICATIONS.

Some of the publications of the society are:
R e p o r t . This is a pamphlet of about 24 pages. It is prepared with the
object not only of summing up what has been accomplished in the preceding year
but of presenting instructive material concerning the history and organization of
the society, together with its objects and aims. It reflects a striking cordiality
toward the Government, the newspapers, and every agency and individual con­
nected in any way with the operations and problems of the society, and an unva­
rying spirit of encouragement and hope.
F e e d i n g a n d C a r e o f B a b y . This is an exhaustive, practical, and carefully indexed
publication of 162 pages, with 60 illustrations. It has chapters on hygiene during
pregnancy, natural feeding, artificial feeding, feeding during the second year, lift­
ing and carrying the baby, training habits, popular errors, general hygiene, ailments
and precautions, etc., and presents a system worthy of careful study by expectant
mothers, b y mothers and fathers of young children, and by all who are interested
in the problems of child welfare. The book is sold for 1 shilling. Twenty thousand
of these books have been sold and a new edition of 20,000 has been issued.
W h a t B a b y N e e d s ( W h e t h e r W e l l o r III).
This is a pamphlet of 48 pages and
covers in a condensed form the topics dealt with in the more elaborate book on
the “ Feeding and Care of B aby.” I t has one especially interesting chapter which
relates to the care of babies in hot climates.
F e e d i n g b y t h e C l o c k . An eight-page reprint of a chapter in the book on “ Feeding
and Care,of B aby.”
W h a t i s B e s t f o r B a b y . A four-page leaflet containing helpful advice concerning
the care of baby.
Reprints of addresses delivered before the society.
Rules for Plunket nurses.1
A

nnual


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1 See Appendix, pp. 15 to 17.

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14

N E W ZEALAN D SOCIETY FOR H E A L T H OF W O M E N AN D C H ILD R E N .

The Government publishes pamphlets and circulars on the care of
babies. One of these, “ Baby’s First M onth/’ is supplied free to every
mother at the time the birth of the child is registered. Postmasters
are asked to distribute the pamphlet. It is estimated that approxi­
mately 25,000 copies will be issued every year. The publication is
a 45-page pamphlet with 10 attractive and instructive illustrations.
“ Baby’s Welfare” is the name of another Government publication.
C O N C L U SIO N .

The foregoing description of the work of the New Zealand society
seems to give emphasis to a few points which may be outlined briefly:
(1) The recognition that not only in cities but in country districts
provision should be made for instructing mothers in the care of babies;
for teaching young girls all practical methods of home making, includ­
ing baby hygiene and feeding; for giving proper hospital care to sick
babies; and for maintaining conferences where mothers can have
their children examined and can thus learn of any bad condition
before the trouble has progressed beyond recovery.
(2) The need of definite knowledge of just what the problem is in
the different communities. This knowledge it is not possible to obtain
in many districts of the United States, because, on account of the
incomplete registration of births and deaths, this country does not
know how many babies are born and how many die. Therefore, to
urge the passage of good registration laws in States in which such
laws do not exist and to force efficiency in administering the registra­
tion laws in other States is a definite requirement.
(3) The need of cooperation between volunteer and public health
authorities in reducing the infant mortality.1
(4) Recognition of the merit of the methods of the New Zealand
society for consideration by club women and others in making plans
for infant-welfare campaigns in small towns and rural communities
in the United States.
(5) The value of methods which include districting the territory
in a State and organizing local committees having supervision of the
welfare work; the employment of nurses whose services are chiefly
educational; newspaper publicity; and the publication of pamphlets
and other literature on hygiene and the care of babies and children,
containing advice vouched for by the best medical authorities and
expressed in direct, simple language.
1 See analysis of public-health service in cities and towns in Illinois by Dr. George Thomas Palmer,
referred to in bulletin Baby-Saving Campaigns, Children’s Bureau, Department of Labor, pp. 10 and 11.


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APPENDIX.
RULES OF M EM B ER SH IP OF T H E SOCIETY.

The following paragraphs, reprinted from one of the society’s
pamphlets, explain the general organization of the society:
M E M B E R S H IP .

All persons who subscribe the sum of not less than 5s. a year to the funds of the
society shall be deemed members of the society. The society’s year commences on
the 1st of April.
A past or future donor of a contribution of not less than £50 shall be a life member of
the society without being bound to pay the annual subscription. Anyone desirous of
becoming a member must send in his or her name to the secretary, accompanied by
one year’s subscription, unless he or she is already a life member or becomes such on
joining the society.
COM M ITTEE.

The society and its operations, its funds and property, shall, subject, however, to the
control in all things b y general meetings of the members, be governed, managed, and
disposed of b y a committee of the members of the society, consisting of the following:
President, vice president, honorary secretary, honorary treasurer, and members.
The officers and other members of the committee shall continue in office until the
election of their successors at an annual meeting. Retiring members shall be eligible
for reelection. Any vacancy occuring in the committee during the year may be filled
by the committee.
_
|
The personnel of the committee is to be kept as widely embracive of all sections of
the community as possible, subject, of course, to there being local representatives of
each class or persuasion available who would be interested, sympathetic, suitable, and
willing to act.
.
The affairs of the society shall, subject to the control of the general meeting, be
managed by the committee elected annually. _
.
.
.
The members of the committee shall remain in office until the election of their suc­
cessors. Any vacancy may be filled b y the committee.
The committee shall meet once a month.
The committee may appoint executive subcommittees, to be called executives, con­
sisting of from 5 to 10 of their number, including the president, secretary, and
treasurer
An advisory board of three or more men (including, preferably, a doctor, a solicitor,
and a business man) shall be elected at the annual general meeting, with whom the
committee may consult on any matter of difficulty.
. .
Though the services of the Plunket nurses w ill be rendered free of charge, it is hoped
that the executive of each branch w ill afford those persons who are in a position to
do so the privilege of paying for services rendered.
Free railway passes w ill be granted b y the public health department for the use of
Plunket nurses traveling on duties connected with their work.
RULES FOR T H E P LU N K E T NURSES.
The services of the nurse in her special sphere of work are to be at the disposal,
gratis, of any member of the community, whether rich or poor, who chooses to apply
to her either directly or through a doctor, or through a member of the society.
It is expressly enjoined that where a medical man is in actual attendance, the nurse
is not to act without his consent.
.
,
,
A Plunket nurse is a nurse engaged in the work of any of the various branches of I fie
Society for the Health of Women and Children throughout the Dominion of New
Zealand. The nurses appointed shall be either: (a) A general hospital nurse; or
(5) a registered maternity nurse.
.
In the former case there should be three months’ training at the Kantane Home,
and in visiting cases outside. In the case of the maternity nurse, there should be
six months’ similar special training. At the end of the period an examination shall
15


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N E W ZEALAN D SOCIETY FOR H E A L T H OF W O M E N AN D CH ILD R E N .

be held, with the view to the granting of a certificate of proficiency. In all cases the
fee for training •will be £10.
The nurse will be entitled to be called a Plunket nurse only so long as she is employed
as such in the work of the society—the working badge to be returned to the society
on giving up the work.
The salary for a Plunket nurse shall be such as the society shall from time to time
determine.
Uniform.— Silver-gray coat and bonnet or hat for outdoor; silver-gray cotton uniform
for indoor; white apron, collar, and cuffs.
The nurse shall have one month’s holiday in the year. Local committees to decide
details.
Proper records must be kept of all cases, and of visits paid, and a summary must-be
forwarded to the committee every month.
Copies must be kept of all letters written by the Plunket nurses in connection with
the work of the society. Books for this purpose will be supplied. All letters received
must be kept, and duly indexed and filed as directed.
Where the Plunket nurses are in doubt as to what course they should pursue under
any particular circumstance, the advice of the committee should be sought at once.
Verbal inquiries may be made of the president or secretary, but where the matter
does not need immediate attention, a letter should be written to the secretary.
Plunket nurses are expected to show proficiency and facility in calculating the
percentage, composition, and caloric value of any milk mixture or ordinary diet.
H IN TS FOR T H E G E N E R A L GUIDANCE OF P LU N K E T NURSES.
The main function of the Plunket nurses is to sympathetically and tactfully educate
and help parents and others in a practical way in the hygiene of the home and nursery,
with a view to conserving the health of the whole family while directing special atten­
tion to the needs of mother and offspring.
The society is .extremely anxious to bring about a realization of the sufficingness in
general of obedience to the simple known laws of life and nature to maintain the health
of mother and child, and the inevitable Nemesis which follows sooner or later on any
evasion of duty in this respect. Above all, it desires to avoid the resorting to anything
savoring of mystery, or suggestive of special knowledge or powers outside the range of
understanding of ordinary men and women. The nurse is not be a “ secret healer ” or
*‘ mystery woman ” of any kind, but a competent nurse ready to explain and show in a
simple practical way the essentials for the house, and how best to insure the everyday
needs for health, namely: Good air (how to secure it day and night); good food (how to
prepare it, where and how to keep it, etc.); sunshine; outing; exercise; rest; sleep
(how to make baby’s bed); bathing, etc.; what to avoid— what not to do— (dummies,
bad feeding bottles, wrong perambulators, etc.).
The Plunket nurses shall maintain a perfectly neutral attitude toward the members
of the medical profession in respect to advising who should be consulted. From time
to time Plunket nurses have wished to know what course they should pursue if asked
b y mothers to recommend a doctor. Under no circumstances may the Plunket nurses
give any hint whatever as to choice or preference in this direction. A ny other course
would be entirely opposed to the spirit of loyalty and impartiality toward the pro­
fession which must obtain throughout.
When in doubt as to a baby’s condition, the nurse should always advise the prompt
calling in of the family doctor, where there is one; but whether there is or is not, she
must never hint or indicate in any way who should be consulted.
Plunket nurses must never forget that the work they are engaged in is essentially a
health mission. In regard to domestic hygiene, they should take the place where
needed of untrained, unskilled neighbors or relations in as tactful a way as possible.
They should endeavor to establish in the home an understanding and adoption of the
simple principles illustrated in practice at the Karitane Harris Hospital, and incul­
cated in the society’s books, pamphlets, “ Our Babies” column, etc.
One of the first duties of the Plunket nurse is to inculcate and try to establish breast­
feeding. Further, she is to teach the mothers to be capable and self-reliant, so that
they may intelligently safeguard and tend themselves with their babies rather than
come to depend on the nurse at every turn. A nurse may be an excellent helper her­
self and yet leave the mother as helpless and incompetent as before she was called in.
The desire of the society is to achieve the exact opposite of this. The mother should
be taught so that she may not only help herself in future, but so that she may also be
helpful to her friends and neighbors. The nurse should be a sympathetic teacher and
practical helper—not merely a “ spoon-feeder.”
The Plunket nurse should understand that while her services are available to every
member of the community without charge, it is, nevertheless, desirable that parents


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N E W ZEALAN D SOCIETY FOR H E A L T H OF W O M E N AN D C H ILD R E N .

17

who can well afford to pay for help should be given the chance of doing so, and should
be tactfully reminded that it is open to them to make a donation to the society’s funds
in appreciation of services rendered; further, that if they are not already members
they can become so; and that where a mother has been helped, the society trusts
she w ill do her best to hand on the knowledge she has acquired to friends and neighbors.
For all such intimations as the above the society has to depend on the discrimination,
common sense, and tact of the, nurse. Immeasurable harm can be done by an indis­
creet or tactless woman in such matters.
In addition to the duties already referred to, Plunket nurses are expected to do
what they can to further the society’s health mission b y such means as: (1) Practical
talks and demonstrations to school girls on matters concerning their own health, or
concerning the health of children, e, g., taking a baby into the school, where
desired to do so, and telling and showing the girls all about it. (2) Talks and demon­
strations to young women, mothers, nurses, etc., on matters concerning health and duty
to the race.
In this connection it is impossible to define precisely what each nurse should do.
One nurse may have special aptitude in certain directions, but may lack confidence
in herself in other directions. A ll that the society wants is that each Plunket muse
w ill do her best to sympathetically carry on the health mission in the proper spirit.
If the heart of the nurse is in the work—if she has a genuine, unselfish, patriotic
interest in mother and child, and in the future of our race—she w ill succeed even if
she does not happen to be capable of undertaking talks to assemblages of mothers or
school girls in the first instance.
R U L E S D E F IN IT E L Y R E G U L A T IN G T H E CONDUCT OF PL U N K E T N U R S E S IN R E L A T IO N TO—

The parents.— The services of the Plunket nurse in her special sphere of work are
at the disposal gratis of all members of the community, rich or poor, who ask for them.
It is the nurse’s first duty to inculcate and try to establish breast-feeding.
The nurse should educate and help parents and others in a practical way in the
hygiene of the home and nursing with a view to conserving the health of the whole
family while directing special attention to the needs of the mother and offspring.
The nurse should always try to stimulate and quicken the interest and self-reliance
of parents in matters pertaining to the home, so that it may be regulated in a sensible
and responsible way consistent with what is known at the present time as to the funda­
mental requirements of life.
The Plunket nurse must not recommend patent foods or nostrums of any kind.
The public.—The services of the nurse in her special sphere of work are at the disposal
gratis of any member of the community, whether rich or poor, who chooses to apply to
her directly or indirectly through any doctor or any member of the society.
When opportunity offers, the nurse should let it be known that the society is one for
mutual help and that new members are always welcome.
The Plunket nurse shall not grant a newspaper interview or write to any newspaper,
magazine, or journal without the express sanction of her committee. Plunket nurses
shall not be allowed to communicate to the public any views in connection with the
treatment of mother and child which are not consistent with the teachings of the society.
The medical practitioner.— It is expressly enjoined that where a medical man is in
actual attendance the nurse is not to act without his consent.
The Plunket nurse must on no account undertake duties or assume responsibilities
properly restricted to the medical profession. She is to act as nurse and domestic helper
and teacher.
The nurse must always insist on a doctor being called in for any but the simplest
cases of sickness. Further, where any ailment persists in spite of her having given due
attention to the feeding and other hygienic requirements, medical aid must be sought.
When advising the calling in of a doctor, the nurse shall in no case give the slightest
hint as to what doctor is to be consulted.
As a safeguard against carrying infection nurses are not to attend homes where there
are infectious cases, such as measles, whooping cough, and scarlet fever, or to receive at
their offices persons coming from such infected homes.
G O V E R N M E N T P U B L IC -H E A L T H W O R K IN N E W ZE A L A N D .

New Zealand lias a department of public health which supervises
all public and private health agencies. It divides the country into 37
hospital districts, each controlled by a board composed of representa­
tives elected by borough councils, town boards, county councils, etc.


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18

N E W ZEALAN D SOCIETY FOR H E A L T H OF W O M E N AN D C H ILD R E N .

The revenue of the boards is derived from local rates, Government
subsidies, payment by patients, and voluntary contributions. The
following condensed statement from the Report on Public Health
and Hospitals and Charitable Aid, 1911-12, gives an idea of the scope
of the work contemplated by the public-health scheme:
In all the larger hospital districts each board is provided with—
A base hospital.
An infectious-disease hospital.
Annexes or wards for consumptive patients in curable and incurable states.
A consumptive sanatorium.
Incipient mental wards.
An old people’s home.
A chronic ward attached to old people’s home.
A maternity ward. The four chief towns in New Zealand are provided with mater­
nity hospitals under the control of the Government. It is hoped that in the course
of the next few years all country hospitals w ill be provided with maternity wards.
Secondary hospitals. These are situated in the smaller towns and usually consist
of some 10 to 20 beds. For special work or major operations it is the desire of the depart­
ment and the boards that patients should be sent to the base hospital of the district.
A cottage hospital. Usually of some 2 to 6 beds, with a room attached for maternity
cases.; The function of these institutions should be more for first aid until the cases
can with safety be transmitted to the secondary or base hospital.
The district nurse is a most important adjunct to. our hospital system. For the most
part, these nurses are sent to the more remote country districts— the back blocks—where
their services as nurses or midwives are much sought. It is b y means of the services
of such officers that we hope to bring the back blocks more in touch with our hospital
system, of which the district nurse is the outpost. It is the hope of the department
and the boards that back-block settlers should provide cottages for these nurses, not
only for them to live in, but with an extra room or so in which emergency cases can be
treated until they can with safety be forwarded to the secondary hospital of the dis­
trict, or which could be used for maternity cases.

The reports from the Government district nurses show that a rugged
and varied service is often demanded. For instance, a call may come
from the bush at midnight, perhaps a case of accident, when delay
would be serious. The nurse is called upon to mount a horse and to
ride in darkness for miles, over muddy, slippery roads, often so narrow
that every step brings danger of a fall over a precipice. In the
swamps her horse gets bogged, or, after a rain, has to swim a way out.
The responsibility of the nurse in districts far from hospitals or
medical aid has often developed an almost heroic initiative and
courage.
The department has established a special nursing service for work
among the Maoris. The nurses live among the natives, help them
with advice and example to live a more hygienic life and to bring up
their children in a healthy manner.
4 A system of Government registration of nurses has been in force
since 1901.
The attitude toward midwives is one of encouragement, but the
practice is strictly regulated. Only registered midwives are per­
mitted to practice, and no person can be admitted to the register unless
she is in possession of a certificate of training and of having passed
an examination approved by the Government. One midwife to
every 1,000 of population is regarded as a desirable proportion. To
a certain extent in its maternity hospitals the Government supplies
training places for midwives. A penalty is enforced by the Govern­
ment for the occurrence of septic cases.


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