Rectangular book with a glued binding and paper covers; the front cover contains a colour illustration of two toddlers on a beach, one wearing a red swim suit and grabbing the other's hand, who is wearing a green swim suit; the background is mostly brown, and near the top. the title "The Baby" is p…
Rectangular book with a glued binding and paper covers; the front cover contains a colour illustration of two toddlers on a beach, one wearing a red swim suit and grabbing the other's hand, who is wearing a green swim suit; the background is mostly brown, and near the top. the title "The Baby" is printed in flourished script and outlined in pink; the spine is white and also contains the title and small illustrations of children's toys and animals; the back cover is backgrounded in black and contains a yellow, orange, pink, and red illustration of numerous children playing on a beach with a giant baby in the background in front of the sun, mouth open and holding up a rattle as birds fly in front of it; the book has sixty four pages and contains information about pre-natal care, preparation for confinement, registration of the baby's birth, care of the infant, infant feeding, care of the runabout child, common ailments of childhood, immunization, baby's record, and baby's development.
Printed on front cover: "The Baby"; printed on back cover: "Issued by the Department of Health of Ontario. // Honorable Forbes Godfrey - Minister of Health".
A later edition of this book, from 1937-1942, in print while Harold J. Kirby was Ontario's Minister of Health, has an illustration of the famous Dionne quintuplets on the front cover.
Forbes Godfrey was Ontario's first Minister of Health, and he was a doctor before entering the realm of politics. Dr. Godfrey wanted the government to do more to combat tuberculosis, as the disease was devastating Ontario's citizens. As a result of his efforts, a system of government supported tuberculosis hospitals was created. Dr. Godfrey was also a strong believer in vaccination. He was responsible for organizing the ministry of health from its beginnings, and he helped protect miners from silicosis; started industrial health programs; created public health clinics in remote areas, and began free immunization programs for Ontario school children.
Exhibit History
On exhibit 100TH Anniversary of Public Health Canada, Ottawa L-2019-7 27 Nov – 2 Dec 2019