London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lambeth 1909
Report on the vital and sanitary statistics of the Borough of Lambeth during the year 1909
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137
These 219 infants and children may be classified, as to
their states of health at the time of being put upon the
Depot milk, as follows:—Healthy (i.e., showing no sign of
wasting or disease, though below par constitutionally) 42,
wasting 106, moribund 8, diiseased 63, total 219. The
diseases from which the 63 infants and children were actually
suffering at the time of being put upon the Depot milk
were:—Diarrhoea and sickness 19, tuberculosis 3, lung
diseases 15, prematurity 7, indigestion 8, diseases of nose
and ear 2, cleft palate 2, meningitis 2, anæmia 1, inflammation
of the bowels 1, eczema 1, thrush 1, and blight 1.
The periods during which the 219 inlants and children continued to use the Depot milk were: —
| 26 weeks and over | 21 | |
| 13—26 weeks | 59 | |
| 6—13 weeks | 49 | |
| 4—6 weeks | 27 | |
| Under 4 weeks— | ||
| 2-4 weeks | 32 | |
| Under 2 weeks | 31* | |
| 63 | ||
| 219 | ||
It will be noted that 58.9 per cent. used the milk for
period's extending from 6 to 26 weeks and over, whilst 28.8
per cent. used the milk for short varying periods under 4
weeks. The reasons assigned for discontinuing the Depot
milk after varying intervals were:—(1) leaving the neighbourhood;
(2) unable, or too far, to send; (3) by order of
medical attendant; (4) unable to pay; (5) unsuitable.
In connection with those parents who were unable
to pay, the private voluntary benevolent fund which has been
opened at the Depot was found useful, though small in
amount, several deserving cases being assisted therefrom
*1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10,
10, 11, 13 and 13 days respectively.