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116
Its value in this respect, as well as in respect of nourishing
and saving life, would appear to depend in large
measure upon the personal assistance and advice of a skilled
visitor at the homes of the children.
5. That the history of the first year of this experimental
Depot, particularly the clinical record, confirms the view that
infants, even when properly and well fed on artificial lines,
may still suffer from one of the most preventable and
fatal of children's diseases—epidemic diarrhoea.
It would therefore appear that, however much this disease may
be spread by milk—and undoubtedly such is the case—it may
also be communicated to infants in other ways. Uncleanliness in
the home, and particularly the common use of articles known as
"comforters" and other similar appliances which readily collect
dust and dirt, may contribute largely to this result, especially in
the summer months.* The clinical records of Depot-fed infants
suffering from this disease further seem to indicate that with
careful dieting the disease may often be prevented or cured, and
death averted. No doubt there are points in the working of this
experimental Depot which are open to criticism, and which should
receive the attention of the Medical Committee responsible; but,
on the whole, the results show an exceptional measure of success,
and such as justify the establishment of similar Depots elsewhere.
On receipt of this report the Council resolved to ask the Local
Government Board to legalize institutions of this nature in order
that they might be established by Metropolitan Borough Councils.
* Evidence is accumulating to show the pollution of the air of houses
by infective or injurious dust and dirt being present in the houses. Many
years ago Cornet demonstrated the presence of the tubercle bacillus
in the dust of houses, and others have proved the same fact. In the
present year Dr. M. H. Gordon has shown that the air entering and leaving
the House of Commons contained microbes and particulate matter of
intestinal origin (from manure) derived from Members' boots. If that
be so, it is much more likely that tenement houses in Finsbury will be
affected in the same way, and in a greater degree. Recently also, Dr.
Niven, of Manchester, has collected facts which increase the probability
that house-flies act as transmitters of the virus of summer diarrhoea by
carrying infected filth to food or other material.