‘More dangerous to be a baby in Britain than a soldier in France’

The war’s ever-mounting death toll had focussed the nation’s attention on the care of its children.

To that end, a three-day maternity and child welfare exhibition was to take place in the Albert Hall in Stirling 100 years ago this week.

Its aim was to cut the mortality rate among babies and tots by providing mums with essential advice on all aspects of child rearing.

People were concerned at the “disquieting statistics” indicating that of every 1000 babies born in Britain at that time 11 die in the first 24 hours, 22 in the first week and 36 in the first month.

And the paper added: “The total infant mortality for the whole of the UK, every year, is 100,000 so it is not surprising to find a London lecturer declaring that it is more dangerous to be a baby in Britain than a soldier in France.”

The exhibition was organised by the Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair and Mrs Ogilvie Gordon, under the auspices of the National Union of Women Workers. It had already visited most of the principal towns in Scotland.

Exhibits explained about the feeding and clothing of babies and children aged one to five and potential sources of danger to them. Advice was given on the importance of day nurseries and medical matters including care of a child’s teeth, eyes and ears and protection from disease.

There was also information on “institutions for the mentally defective, blind deaf and dumb and those suffering from tubercular troubles”.

Care of the mother before and after her infant’s birth, was also featured as was nursing in the home, and “feeding the family, choice and values of different kinds of food, home thrift and economies and simple contrivances in house wifery and disinfection”.

Stirling Town Council and the Mothers’ Union were backing the exhibition and Stirling School Board had arranged for older female pupils to visit the event.

“As admission is free, it is hoped that all women in Stirling will make a point of paying a visit to the exhibition,” said the Observer.