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Table B shows that 20 per cent. of infant deaths from diarrhœal
diseases occurred amongst breast-fed children, and the remaining
80 per cent. amongst children who were either entirely hand fed or
had artificial kinds of food as well as breast fed.
DEVELOPMENT OF INFANT AND MATERNITY WORK
ALONG WITH SCHOOL MEDICAL WORK AND NURSERY
SCHOOLS.
Below are given two reports submitted to the Council by the
Medical Officer of Health on this subject.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Croydon.
5th June, 1919.
To the Public Health Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to submit the following report upon maternity and child
welfare work within the County Borough of Croydon and a scheme
for the general development of this work:—
About sixteen years ago Croydon appointed its first lady
Health Visitors, whose duties included the visitation of infants.
This was the first direct effort made here to control infant welfare.
In 1914, following upon a report from the Medical Officer of
Health on infant mortality in Croydon, with special reference to
the West Ward, the first Infant Welfare Centre was opened at
228, London Road. In the following and subsequent years the
Croydon Mothers and Infants Welfare Association opened nine
other such centres, with medical and nursing staff, in the Borough ;
and also established a Maternity Hostel at Croydon Grove, which
is now transferred to St. Mary's, St. James' Road, which was
purchased and specially adapted for use as a Hospital by the
Mayor in July, 1918. In 1916 the Corporation instituted an Infant
Sick Nursery (providing six cots) at 228, London Road. In 1917
a milk coupon scheme was begun for the nourishment of necessitous
mothers and children, and in 1918 the Corporation took over the
entire medical and nursing services of the Maternity and Infant
Centres throughout the town, established an Ante-natal Clinic,
and guaranteed the fees of medical practitioners called in by midwives
to complicated necessitous cases of confinement. The Corporation
also materially contributes to the upkeep of the Maternity
Hostel.