View report page

65
Many of the mothers of the deceased children were women who went out to work, their
several occupations being given as :—
Laundress 58, Charwoman 14, Domestic Servant 7, Dressmaker 3, Shop Assistant, Sick
Nurse, Sempstress, Flower-seller, 2 each, Shop-keeper, Match-seller, 1 each. Total 92.
The position in life of the mothers of deceased illegitimate children was as follows:—
Domestic Servant 25, Laundress 10, Charwoman 6, Dressmaker, Flower-seller, 2 each,
Waitress, Carpet Sewer, Shop Assistant, Actress, Independent Means, 1 each, unknown
4. Total 54.
The foregoing particulars serve to show to what a preponderating extent the deaths of infants
occur among the less prosperous classes.
The following cases, illustrating the waste of infant life in the families of the poor, are worth
citing; the mothers being responsible for the statements of the causes of death.
Of 11 children born in one family, 2 survive, the other 9 having died from "premature
birth."
„ 4 „ „ „ 1 survives, the other 3 having died from " convulsions"
within the first month.
„ 16 „ „ „ 4 survive, the other 12 having died within the first year,
6 of them from " premature birth."
„ 5 „ „ „ 1 survives, the other 4 having died under one year from
" wasting," consumption, etc.
„ 11 „ „ „ 1 survives, the other 10 having died from " premature
birth."
„ 5 „ „ „ 1 survives, the other 4 having died under one year from
" wasting."
,,10 „ „ „ 4 survive, the other 6 having died under one year from
" teething."
,, 10 „ „ . „ 4 survive, the other 6 having died under one year from
" diarrhoea."
,, 6 „ „ „ 1 survives, the other 5 having died under one year from
" bowel complaints."
,, 9 „ „ „ 3 survive, the other 6 having died under one year from
" consumption."
„ 4 „ „ „ 1 survives, the other 3 having died under one year from
" chest diseases."
,, 5 „ „ „ 1 survives, the other 4 having died under one year from
pneumonia.
„ 5 „ ,, ,, 1
„ 6 „ „ „ None survive, all having died under one year.
,, 3 ,, „ „
The Inspectors remark, that, when they could, the mothers (stated that they) nursed their
babies, but that " in many cases the milk failed through their own want of nourishment." In
numerous instances, however, in which the mother had nursed, it appeared—judging from " their
sickly and tired condition "—the quality of the milk could not have been such as to be very
beneficial to the child.
[In this connexion, reference may be made to the annual report for 1897 (p. 42). on
" Infantile Diarrhœal Mortality," in which it was stated that in all but three out of 43 cases
investigated, the children had been weaned ; but ten of the children were in the second Year of
life.]
Seeing that a large proportion of the infants had been brought up by hand, it became an
interesting question on what sort of food they had been fed.