View report page

63
to the feeding and care of the infant. Some delay was
experienced before this work -could be begun, owing to the
inability of the local Registrars to furnish the Council with
lists of homes from which births were registered.
In April, the Council addressed a communication to the
Local Government Board, asking the Board to take steps to
empower the Registrars to give this information, and in
November a letter was received from the Board to the effect
that the Board had arranged with the Registrar-General to
permit the local Registrars to give the desired information.
Weekly lists containing certain specified particulars of each
birth registered in Battersea are now received from the
Registrars, and suitable cases are visited by Mrs. Young.
Particulars of each case visited are reported in writing to the
Medical Officer of Health, and the information is recorded in
a card register. Mrs. Young supplements her oral instructions
by leaving a card containing advice as to the feeding of infants.
This card, which was drawn up by the Medical Officer of
Health, by order of the Health Committee, is in the following
terms:—
Battersea Borough Council.
ADVICE ON THE FEEDING OF INFANTS.
The baby should be fed at the breast for at least nine months.
MOTHER'S MILK IS BY FAR THE BEST FOOD FOR BABIES.
THE BABY SHOULD BE FED REGULARLY. During the
first two months give the breast every two hours in the day, and
every four hours at night. After two months gradually increase the
time between each meal to three hours in the day, and let the baby
sleep from 11 at night to 5 in the morning without a meal.
If the mother has not enough milk, give cow's milk as well. The
two milks will not disagree.
Never take stout or other stimulants when suckling: drink
plenty of milk instead.
WEAN YOUR BABY GRADUALLY. Never wean during
July, August or September if you can possibly help it. If you do your
baby may die from summer diarrhœa.