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110
Walker-Gordon cradle balance), and record and register books.
All unnecessary expense has been avoided. It is not so much upon
apparatus as upon methods that a distributing centre depends for
success.
Infants requiring the milk are introduced to the Depot by medical
practitioners, hospitals, nurses, sanitary inspectors, birth registrars,
and others. The parents or guardians must pay the necessary
price of the milk in advance, and must be residents of Finsbury.
The price charged is the ordinary market price of milk in the
district—namely 4d. per quart. On the Wednesday following the
date of application the infant is brought to the Depot, medically
examined by a member of the Medical Committee, and weighed.
Particulars respecting the child are entered in the Record Book,
and a second page is devoted to fortnightly entries as to progress,
increase or otherwise of weight, and general physical condition.
It is obligatory that the child shall be brought once a fortnight
to be weighed, and, if necessary, examined. The milk is only
supplied on this condition. No medicine is given, and if medical
advice is required the mother is instructed to consult a medical
man or go to a hospital. The Depot is not a "consultation de nourrissons"
but a " goutte de lait." After medical examination the
suitable degree of modification is ordered from the farm, and the
mother sends for the milk daily.
Each child fed on the Depot milk is visited in its own home once
a week, and in some cases more frequently. In this way a direct
personal influence is brought to bear on the mother, and homely
advice is given and precautions taken as to the management of the
infant. Sanitary conditions and their effect on the health of the child
are noted. Moreover, it has been found in practice that printed
instructions as to the way in which the milk is to be used are not
properly understood by the mother apart from personal advice or
actual demonstration. Preparation and bottling at the farm
protect the milk from home contamination, but it is necessary
that the infant should take the milk direct from the bottle
in the proper way if such contamination is to be absolutely
avoided. Good practice in this respect is obtained by