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20
Of the notified cases it was only found possible for one
Health Visitor to visit 369 cases.
The commonest cause of Infantile Death is the want of
knowledge of infant care.
At the Infants' Clinic short addresses are given to the
mothers on the care and feeding of infants.
The interest shown by the attendance of the mothers at the
Clinic proves the need for such and shows that they are anxious
for the welfare of their babies.
The advantage of Maternal Nursing as against artificial
feeding is pointed out.
Artificially fed children are much more susceptible to intestinal
disorders and complications of other diseases caused thereby.
Where from any cause such as insufficiency or poorness of
the mother's milk, artificial feeding is resorted to, the advantage
of the Clinic, where advice may be obtained as to the best foods
to be given, will be understood.
I attend myself at the Clinic and give advice to those
mothers where the baby does not appear to be making satisfactory
progress.
It may be said that these mothers should seek advice from a
private doctor, but 1 would point out the impossibility of most
of the parents obtaining medical advice on account of the expense.
Where treatment is necessary in the way of medicine the
parent is advised to take the child either to her own doctor or
a hospital. But this is not always possible, as even fares and
loss of time in attending hospital is a serious consideration.
A number of medical men in the borough now send mothers
with their infants to the Clinic, where it is found that it is
impossible for the parent to pay for private advice.
The infants are weighed and weight recorded on a card
supplied to the mother as well as in a register kept at the Clinic.
It is interesting to note the interest taken by the mother in the
improvement as shown by the increase in weight of the infant.