ABSTRACT
We have seen that in 1892 Pierre Budin, then accoucheur at La Charité, succeeded in creating a consultation spéciale de nourrissons to tackle the problem of reducing infant mortality. Henri praised Budin for launching a real crusade to save babies, done with the material support of some of his patients and the approval of the Assistance publique – diplomatically, he did not note its institutional inertia. A basic problem, as Budin and his colleagues saw it, was the issue of power: the accoucheur had control of the baby for only nine days after its birth. This was the “short period” – short for Budin, Henri, and their allies – corresponding to the time specified by regulations of the Assistance publique for stays of new mothers in its maternity establishments. The department head determined exceptions. Budin succeeded in his fight against this system when he opened his model consultation at La Charité. Rachel Fuchs calls his institution “the first well-baby clinic,” the beginning of “schools of motherhood.”2 His radical innovation gave the accoucheur control over the baby’s feeding and medication for twelve months. Though some doctors in pediatrics opposed this turf grab, the Directeur général of the Assistance publique, Ernest Peyron, supported Budin. Paul Strauss was able to influence Peyron in favor of Budin’s plan. One would hesitate to say that the scientific evidence in the case did not convince the Assistance publique, but political pressure also counted.3
