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has a crust to suck, or a "a bit of what we're having ourselves"
(this though on re-inspection at a later period). They obtain their
milk sometimes from one dairyman, or sometimes from another,
When it happens to be convenient, the child is fairly regularly
bathed, but at other times this practice is dropped, and is very
generally discontinued after a few weeks. But in nearly every case
a baby's "comforter" is used, and when advised against its use,
the mothers say, "They must have something to keep it quiet," and
"It is always kept clean." This latter statement is often obviously
untrue, and the mothers do not take into account "dirt" that is not
visible.
Apart from the fact that the houses are often badly planned,
badly built, and badly arranged, the homes are, on the whole
"fair." Where nuisances exist, they are dealt with as they are discovered.
And it must of course be remembered that the majority
of my visits are paid to houses where there is, or has very recently
been, a doctor or nurse in attendance; and as efforts are made to
have their homes presentable at such times, my visits are perhaps
often paid in exceptionally favourable circumstances.
DEATHS.
The deaths of 192 infants under one year were referred to me
for investigation. Of that number 12 were not found, so that
information concerning the child and its treatment was obtained in
180 cases only.
61 were said to have been entirely breast fed.
17 partly breast fed.
88 hand fed.
Six were born and died in a Hospital or Institution, so that no
information beyond this fact was obtained; and 8 who died in
hospital were said to have been entirely breast fed till they went
there.
Forty-two had cow's milk alone; five cow's milk and bread;
two cow's milk and Ridge's Food; two cow's milk and Allenbury's
Food; one cow's milk and Mellin's Food; one cow's milk and