View report page

43
conditions affecting the health of infants in this district. Of the 115
cases, in twenty instances the family occupied one room only, while in
eleven cases the family were living and sleeping in basement rooms.
It is a noticeable fact that an undue proportion both of infantile deaths
and of infectious cases reported by the schools occur in basement rooms.
This is partially accounted for by the statement made by the occupiers
of basements that many landlords will only give accommodation in
basement rooms to families with several children. In twenty cases
(17 per cent.), out of the total of 115, the deceased infant had been the
first child, Of the remaining 95, in 46 cases the parents had previously
lost children. The aggregate number of previous deaths for the 46
families amounted to 108, or an average of 2.34 per family. In one
instance the parents had previously lost eight infants under twelve
months old. In another family three children under one year (baby
11 months and twins one week) died within a period of three months.
In ten cases the deceased infant was stated to be illegitimate. In eight
cases out of the total number, the baby had been entirely handed over
to the charge of others. In six other instances the infant had been left
in the care of others while the mother went to work in the day. Of these
latter, three children died of scarlet fever, whooping cough, and measles
respectively, which the mothers each alleged they contracted in the
house at which they had been left, previous cases having occurred there.
(4) Phthisis Cases.
All cases of phthisis voluntarily notified by medical practitioners
have been visited, and are revisited from time to time as the circumstances
may require. Some cases have now been on the list for over
two years. In addition, those patients suffering from phthisis, who are
discharged or discharge themselves from the Infirmary, are notified by
the Master of the Workhouse. These are subsequently visited, but some
come out for a short time only. Those who go to common lodging
houses are visited by the Chief Inspector. A considerable number of
cases have also been reported from various sources, such as the Charity
Organization and the Lady Almoners of St. George's Hospital, and
Brompton Hospital, district visitors, &c. Leaflets of instructions, pocket
spittoons, disinfectants, fibre handkerchiefs, &c., are distributed when
necessary.
Owing to the proximity of the Brompton Hospital, the majority of
consumptives in this district attend there, as the treatment is free, on
production of a letter. These cases are not notified from the hospital.
(5) School Cases.
All non-notifiable infectious or contagious diseases, such as measles,
whooping cough, chickenpox, &c., reported by the schools during the
year have been visited. These amounted in all to 322, which number
does not include duplicate notifications, nor more than one case at each
house. In all 369 visits were paid. The voluntary schools now under
control of the Council have latterly reported cases, which formerly they
were not in the habit of doing. It has come to be generally known
among the parents of children attending the schools that the cases are