1931 - Annual Convention

              42 A L B E R T A W O M E N ' S I N S T I T U T ES
In the outline sent last year it was asked to give special study to Tuber­culosis
and Sanitation, also H o w to Relax. The response has been splendid.
Many branches report lectures, papers and round table discussions on these
subjects and in many places the matter of sanitation has taken a .- more
definite form. Some branches co- operated with their Board of Trade in a
" Clean U p " .' campaign and others turned their attention to school sanitation.
One Convener, who is also a nurse, reports that she does a great deal of
bedside nursing in her own district and never. passes an opportunity to give
instructions in s a n i t a t i o n and the value of relaxation and recreation.
One branch asks the somewhat pointed question, " What can be done about
a practical nurse who charges $ 3.00 per day and knows nothing of sanitation
or how to care for a mother and new b o r n i n f a n t ? " I t h i n k the simplest way
to deal with that is. do not employ her, but in some districts that is more
easily said than done, as that same woman may be the only available help.
It is a serious problem and one that affects many homes not only in Alberta
but throughout Canada, and white efforts have been made in the past the
problem is still unsolved.
Other Work Done •
The usual donations to Red Cross. Salvation A r m y and Wood's C h r i s t i an
Home have been given. Much local relief work has been done by numerous
branches. Clothing has been donated, also hampers of food where needed.
One branch paid $ 75.00 doctor's bill for a needy case: another branch sent an
Infantile Paralysis case to the hospital in Edmonton.
Conveners' Activities
E a r l y in the Institute year I secured a quantity of health pamphlets and
l i t e r a t u r e from the Department of Health, Red Cross and other reliable
sources, and when requests came for something to assist in preparing papers,
lectures or demonstrations a parcel of this literature was at once mailed to
person requesting same. I found this more satisfactory than the plan used
last year and many parcels have been sent.
Besides taking charge of the A . W . I . Health Exhibit at the Canadian
National E x h i b i t i o n at T o r o n t o . I have sent a full report of our activities to
our National Convener.
Conclusion •
Outstanding in P u b l i c H e a l t h interests in Canada was the convention of
( he B r i t i s h Medical Association held in W i n n i p e g last September which was
attended by two thousand doctors, men and women. The effect of this con­vention
upon the future of Canadian medicine cannot fail to be far- reaching
and deep.
There the frank admission of the. medicos left no doubt that there is as
yet no certain cure for cancer, but that there is every hope in early treatment.
" h'ood Fads" came in for a full share of discussion and Dr. M o r r i s F i s h -
bien pointed out that the trade of preying upon the food superstitions of the
people is worth millions of dollars a year. He also threw in a stern warning
against too drastic reducing. Dr. Robert Hutchison, a London specialist in
dietetics, took part in this discussion; this is what he s a i d : " To take no
thought of what you eat or drink is wiser than to be always fussing over it.
Likes and dislikes should be listened to as they arc probably nature's indica­tions
of what agrees or disagrees. As to calories, our appetites were given
us to tell us how much food we need and in health it is usually a t r u s t w o r t hy
guide. Leave raw vegetables, except salads, to the herbivorous animals."