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this work propaganda to instruct the public in the necessity of supporting the medical profession in their demand for a higher standard of work and for the co-operation of the patient might well proceed. As has been stated before—but it will bear repetition —an educated public opinion is necessary for intelligent co-operation between the patient and her husband, on the one part, and the practitioner and the health officer on the other. There is still ample work for officers of the Health Department, in co-operation with the medical practitioner, for further activities along the lines followed in the past, which if continued vigorously, will, in my opinion, ensure a further reduction in the maternal mortality and the reduction of much suffering and illness subsequent to the ailments and accidents of pregnancy. The results so far have been sufficiently encouraging to warrant a continuance of our efforts on the same lines as have been adopted in the last few years. SECTION 3.—REPORT OF ELAINE GURR, M.8., BAC. SURG. (UNIV.) N.Z. I have the honour to submit my report for the year ending 31st March, 1927. Statistical data is for the calendar year ending 31st December, 1926 :— Administration. Staff. —The staff consists at present of part-time Medical Officers, two tutor sisters, and three sisters in charge of ante-natal clinics. The Medical Officers of the State maternity hospitals in the four centres of New Zealand are assisted by the sister in charge of the clinics, and by the tutor sisters, who visit all clinics regularly to supervise the clinical work and to continue the ante-natal-clinic training. Training. —An important change in the training of nurses in ante-natal work was instituted this year when the nurses and Midwives Registration Board decided to incorporate the ante-natal training and examination in the training and examination for midwives. The examination-pagpers and oral examination for midwives will include questions on ante-natal work, and unless candidates show a reasonably good knowledge of ante-natal work a pass in the midwifery examination will be withheld. Instruction in the methods of ante-natal diagnosis and treatment is now looked upon as an essential part of the training of the midwife, and within a few years, when the effects of this new teaching become apparent, a great diminution in foetal and maternal mortality will result. Work accomplished. Clinics established. —During the last year two new ante-natal clinics were established—at the Plunket Society, Dunedin, and at the Plunket Society, Auckland. Arrangements were made for the extension of ante-natal work at the Whangarei Public Hospital, and at St. Helens Hospital, Dunedin. Ante-natal work is still in the initiation stage, and has been chiefly confined to the four centres of New Zealand. It is hoped that during the next year an attempt will be made to extend it to the country districts, where it is urgently needed by women who are so situated that they are obliged to forgo many of the opportunities afforded to those who live within easy distance of welfare associations and ante-natal clinics. The following figures, extracted from reports supplied to the Health Department by nurses in charge of ante-natal clinics, summarizes the year's work of the ante-natal clinics, extended by the Health Department, and enables a rapid survey to be made of the activities of the clinics : —

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I Wellington. Auckland. Christchurch. Dunedin. Hotorua. Opunake. Total. I i • First visit of primiparae .. .. 613 476 384 ' 44 24 20 1,561 First visit of multiparas .. .. 644 629 492 84 32 19 1,900 Return visits .. .. .. 3,895 3,190 2,231 220 99 79 9,714 Sterilized maternity outfits .. 122 119 160 .. 21 1 423 Homes visited .. . . .. 342 255 174 90 83 1 945 Albuminuria .. . . . . 52 102 90 39 4 6 293 Pre-eclampsia .. .. .. 3 16 .. .. .. .. 19 Pregnancy kidney .. .. .. 3 5 .. .. . . 8 Hyperemesis .. .. .. 4 23 3 4 .. .. 34 Hydramnios .. .. .. 2 12 3 7 2 .. 26 Multiple pregnancy .. .. 17 V 10 .. I .. 35 Malpositions] I .. . . 99 197 51 II. 1 .. 359 Contracted pelvis ... .. 8 22 j 14 2 .. 1 47 Pruritus vulvae .. .. .. 33 31 110 7 .. .. 181 Dental caries .. .. .. 195 417 216 23 13 .. 864 Goitre .. .. . • • • 57 148 78 26 .. .. 309 Gonorrhoea .. ■■ .. 1 3 7 .. .. .. 11 Syphilis .. .. •• 3 2 .. .. .. 5 Skin-diseases .. .. .. 8 25 14 2 .. .. 49 Haemorrhoids . . . . . • • ■ 23 30 7 .. .. 60 Varicose veins .. .. .. 267 307 225 39 6 3 847 Phlebitis .. . . • • 1 ■ • ■ • ■ • • • • • 1 Diabetes .. • • • ■ 2 .. .. .. .. .. 2 Wassermann test . • •. 9 20 3 10 .. .. 42 Cervical and urethral swabs .. 8 85 8 .. .. .. 101 X-ray examinations .. .. 12 4 1 .. .. .. 17 Version .. • • • • 21 11 5 .. .. . . 37 Induction .. •• 11 •• 6 5 •• 22 Forceps . . • • • • 65 53 24 3 1 1 147 Other operations .. .. 1 3 5 .. .. .. 9 Eclampsia .. •• 3 2 1 .. .. .. 6 Haemorrhage •. ■ • • • 11 1' 2 1 .. .. 31 Abortions .. • • • • 5 1 1 .. 1 2 10 Miscarriages .. • • • • 4 6 1 • • ■ • • • 11 Premature labour .... 29 28 8 2 1 .. 68 Still-births ...... 34 18 18 2 1 2 75 Maternal deaths .. • • 4 4 2 .... .. 10