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23
"It is twice as dangerous to feed babies on condensed milk
as on fresh cow's milk, that it is fifty-four times as dangerous
to feed a baby on cow's milk and 156 times as dangerous to
feed a baby on condensed milk as on mother's milk."
Next in importance are the various ante-natal
influences to which are attributable nearly a fourth
of the infantile deaths throughout the Kingdom,
Amongst these causes premature birth comes first;
very few immature infants survive the first month of
of life and a large proportion die during the first week.
As still births, which are due to identical causes,
are not registered it is impossible to estimate the total
wastage due to immaturity. Last year 140, a
proportion of 24.4 per cent of the whole infantile
deaths in Bethnal Green were due to these ante-natal
causes, a rate of 33.7 per thousand births as against
26.8 for England and Wales.
As Bethnal Green has almost entirely a working
class population this is scarcely to be wondered at.
The causation of these deaths is, and always will be,
to a great extent outside the control of Borough
Councils, for it depends upon circumstances in which
they are almost helpless. Any measures having for
their object the reduction of this mortality must be
directed to improve the condition and environment
of the mothers during the last months of pregnancy.
The chief unfavourable influences are:—
(а) The employment of pregnant women in
certain trades.
(b) Ignorance and want of care
(c) Illegitimacy.