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Craig, W. S., Child and adolescent life in health and disease
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BOOK REVIEWS CRAIG, W. S., CHILD AND ADOLESCENT LIFE IN HEALTH AND D~SEASE, Pp. 667+XXVI, E. & S. Livingstone Ltd., Edinburgh, 1946, Price 25/-. The book consists of four parts and appendices. The first part deals with historical background of child-care with special reference to privat e philanthrophy, voluntary hospitals, poor law, care of the desti- tute child, infant welfare. The second part describes the care of the child-life at the present time, homelessness, juveniles in need of care, maintenance of health, help for the handicaped, treatment of the sick, administrative background to certain services concerned with child welfare, and child under condition of total war. The third part with the future and the spirit of future endeavour and last part with legis- lation relating to child and adolescent welfare, powers conferred on central and local authorities, protection of the mother, poor law, educational welfare, medical care of certain conditions occurring in childhood, and employment of children and adolescents. Appendices deal with representative institutions, treatment and care of normal and handicaped children, and growth of social pedia- trics. In reviewing the book we agree and quote with pleasure the following introductory remarks by Professor McNEIL which gives in short the scope of the book : " I believe this book on social pediatrics to be the first of its kind. No doubt there have been many books of social history; but this is the social history of children, the children of the poor, in our country from the beginning of the industrial era to the present day. It describes how the children of the poor have fared in the transition of the nation from a small agricultural to a large and crowded industrial society; and the successive efforts made by individuals, groups and the State to mitigate the condition of destitute, homeless and disabled children. It covers the whole range of human needs throughout the span of child and adolescent life, and describes how these needs have been supplied from 1600 to 1945. Such is the subject of Dr. Craig's book; and it is immense both in its range and complexity; and no less in its importance." This is one of the most comprehensive book dealing with the evolution of child care and child welfare in British Isles. Many of the thoughts and conditions will equally apply in any country. In India. where social pediatrics does not exist at all, or if it does in a most primitive form, physicians, politicians, social reformer and others interested in children would be greatly benefitted by reading this book. They will know something about the life requirements of infants, children and adolescents in all aspects. Dr. CRAIG describes the clinical machine at work in the home, clinic, hospital, and many other institutions and also the directing mechanism of administration, and the laws which sanction all these activities. It will be specially valuable at a time when India is on the threshold of a new era, "It will be a guide as well as a call for drastic action. We shall then accumulate and no longer squander that source of national wealth which "lies in the health of children and adolescents." (McNEIL.)
Transcript of Craig, W. S., Child and adolescent life in health and disease
BOOK REVIEWS CRAIG, W. S., CHILD AND ADOLESCENT LIFE IN HEALTH
AND D~SEASE, Pp. 667+XXVI, E. & S. Livingstone Ltd., Edinburgh, 1946, Price 25/-.
The book consists of four parts and appendices. The first part deals with historical background of child-care with special reference to privat e philanthrophy, voluntary hospitals, poor law, care of the desti- tute child, infant welfare. The second part describes the care of the child-life at the present time, homelessness, juveniles in need of care, maintenance of health, help for the handicaped, treatment of the sick, administrative background to certain services concerned with child welfare, and child under condition of total war. The third part with the future and the spirit of future endeavour and last part with legis- lation relating to child and adolescent welfare, powers conferred on central and local authorities, protection of the mother, poor law, educational welfare, medical care of certain conditions occurring in childhood, and employment of children and adolescents.
Appendices deal with representative institutions, treatment and care of normal and handicaped children, and growth of social pedia- trics.
In reviewing the book we agree and quote with pleasure the following introductory remarks by Professor McNEIL which gives in short the scope of the book :
" I believe this book on social pediatrics to be the first of its kind. No doubt there have been many books of social history; but this is the social history of children, the children of the poor, in our country from the beginning of the industrial era to the present day. It describes how the children of the poor have fared in the transition of the nation from a small agricultural to a large and crowded industrial society; and the successive efforts made by individuals, groups and the State to mitigate the condition of destitute, homeless and disabled children. It covers the whole range of human needs throughout the span of child and adolescent life, and describes how these needs have been supplied from 1600 to 1945. Such is the subject of Dr. Craig's book; and it is immense both in its range and complexity; and no less in its importance."
This is one of the most comprehensive book dealing with the evolution of child care and child welfare in British Isles. Many of the thoughts and conditions will equally apply in any country. In India. where social pediatrics does not exist at all, or if it does in a most primitive form, physicians, politicians, social reformer and others interested in children would be greatly benefitted by reading this book. They will know something about the life requirements of infants, children and adolescents in all aspects. Dr. CRAIG describes the clinical machine at work in the home, clinic, hospital, and many other institutions and also the directing mechanism of administration, and the laws which sanction all these activities.
It will be specially valuable at a time when India is on the threshold of a new era, "It will be a guide as well as a call for drastic action. We shall then accumulate and no longer squander that source of national wealth which "lies in the health of children and adolescents." (McNEIL.)
