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
Wandsworth 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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Report of the Medical Officer of Health. 69
| Method of Feeding. | Age in Months. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0—3. | 3—6. | 6—9. | 9—12. | Total. | |
| 1.—Suckled alone | 4 | 2 | ... | 2 | 8 |
| Do. and farinaceous food | ... | 1 | ... | ... | 1 |
| Do. and cows' milk | 1 | 7 | 1 | ... | 9 |
| Do. and condensed milk | 2 | 1 | ... | ... | 3 |
| 2.—Cows' milk alone | 11 | 19 | 11 | 2 | 43 |
| Do. and farinaceous food | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 18 |
| Do. and condensed milk | 1 | 1 | 4 | ... | 6 |
| Do. do. and farinaceous food | 1 | ... | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 3.—Condensed milk alone | 6 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 22 |
| Do. and farinaceous food | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 13 |
| 4.—Patent foods only mentioned | 1 | 4 | ... | ... | 5 |
| 5.—Unknown | ... | 6 | 6 | 2 | 14 |
| Totals | 30 | 55 | 35 | 21 | 145 |
Out of the total of 131 where the exact kind of food given was
ascertained, only 6.1 per cent. of the children were nursed by the
mother without the addition of any other food. In other words, a
child wholly nursed by the mother has 16 times as great a chance of
living as one fed in any other way.
In 79, or 60 per cent. of the deaths, cows' milk, either alone or
used with some other food, was used, while in 22 cases, or 16.8 per
cent., condensed milk alone was the food used.
In consequence of the increase in the mortality of children from
Diarrhœa and diseases of the digestive organs, the Council requested
me to report on the means that might be adopted to lessen this
mortality, and also to report on the provision of a Municipal Milk
Depot. The followirg report was laid before the Committee:—
E