1915-06-23rr

The last week of June 1915 had been set aside in Hamilton as Babies’ Welfare Week. It was an idea which was originated by several Hamilton women who wanted to use the occasion to educate mothers, and the community generally, on ways to reduce the infant mortality rate. At the same time, it would be an opportunity to advocate ways for the better, more healthy treatment of babies and educate mothers on the services available to them in their task of keeping their babies healthy.

On June 23, 1915, an article written by Spectator reporter described his visit to The Babies’ Dispensary Guild. The guild held an open clinic at King George School as its contribution to Babies’ Welfare Week.

The guild met every Tuesday at King George School, every Thursday at a room on Wentworth Street north and every other day, except Sunday at the City Hospital:

“When a mother brings a baby to the clinic for the first time, it is weighed and then given an examination by one of the physicians on the staff and the mother is given advice.  When the child is brought in again, it is once more weighed and its history sheet examined, which is a record of the various stages of the baby’s progress. Instructions are then given as to its care.”¹

¹ “Saving the Lives of the Little ones : Glimpse of Babies’ Dispensary Guild”

Hamilton Spectator.   June 23, 1915.

The clinic had a regular staff of physicians and nurses who made themselves available at the clinics. At the King George Clinic on Tuesday, an average of 50 babies were brought, while the average number of babies brought into the other clinics was much lower, at 25.

The work of the Babies’ Dispensary Clinic was mainly preventative and educational. It had been started in 1911, and it was claimed that the infant mortality rate in Hamilton had been reduced over 50 per cent in just four years .

The Hamilton Public Library, in partnership with the Babies’ Dispensary Guild, had purchased and made available at the clinics, various books which would provide important information for mothers on the care of their babies.

After the invited guests to the open clinic had been an opportunity to witness the work being done, a reception was held, with afternoon tea being served:

“At the close of the reception, a group photograph of the mothers and babies attending the clinic was taken in front of the school. The mayor arrived just in time for the photograph, and was considerably surprised when one of the officials of the Babies’ Welfare League placed a little picaninny in his arms. But to balance the effect, he managed to borrow one of his own color from one of the proud mothers.

“Considerable dissatisfaction was caused by the absence of the city officials. The opinion was expressed that they should evince interest in the work of an association that is trying to do so much for the betterment of the city, and should not be conspicuous by their absence.”¹

The morning following the visit to the open clinic of Babies’  Dispensary Guild, a visit was paid to the children’s ward of the Mountain Sanatorium:

“The visitors made a tour of the different rooms, giving flowers and candies to the children, of whom there are forty now under treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, 26 girls and 14 boys. By the charts at each bed, it was seen that all children had gained as much as fifteen pounds under  the careful treatment of Dr. Holbrook and the competent staff of nurses.¹

¹ “Kiddies’ Ward at the San Visited : Baby Welfare Workers See Good Work Being Done.”

Hamilton Spectator. June 23, 1915.

When the Mountain Sanatorium had opened in 1906, there had been no arrangement whatsoever for the treatment of children, although occasionally children were admitted but they had to stay in adult wards.

As the number of children needing treatment increased, it became evident that a separate building was needed. The building was erected in 1910, and formally opened on January 1, 1911.

From January 1911 to June 1915, 202 children had been treated at the Mountain Sanatorium, and only one of the patients, apparently an already very advanced case, had died.

Dr. Holbrook had grown in his estimation of the progress in the disease of tuberculosis since the Mountain Sanatorium had opened:

“It has become apparent to the staff that tuberculosis has its beginning far earlier than was formerly suspected, and that undoubtedly many children are affected from one to five years of age. As a result, they feel that the stamping out of tuberculosis resolves itself into the protection of the children, and that the first two years of a child’s life are the most important in this respect.

“This is the connection between the work of the Baby Welfare League and the sanatorium.”¹

After the visitors had inspected the entire children’s ward from the beds to the school room, a photograph of the staff and visitors, plus as many of the children well enough to go outside, gathered for a photograph to be taken.