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11
That the first two causes I have named are not sufficient by themselves
to induce this disease is evidenced from the fact that the children of the
well to do classes, as a rule escape, the great severity of the disease
being manifested amongst the children of the working and poorer classes.
The ignorance of some mothers amongst the poorer classes as to the
management of their infants is unfortunately a matter of common notoriety
amongst medical men, and even if this ignorance does not exist, it often
happens that stress of circumstances compels the mother to go out to work,
thus precluding that attention to the infant which the latter demands, and
the baby as likely as not is left in the charge of some child or other
irresponsible person.
In my opinion the most efficient way in which to combat the disease
would be to prevent as far as possible the growth and activity of the special
micro-organism by improving the immediate surroundings of the poorer
class houses, and by educating the people concerned to the great importance
of feeding their children properly.
The first measure could be attained, to a great extent, by enforcing,
where practicable, the paving of the yards in the immediate vicinity of the
houses, and by the prevention of any accumulation of refuse, whether vegetable
or animal, but the education of the people could at present be affected
only by the distribution of handbills, not an extremely satisfactory method
perhaps, but doubtless a means of preventing in some cases a regrettable
loss of life.