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38
RE-INSPECTION.
When the period arrived for the re-inspection of those infants
who had been visited shortly after their birth, much time and labour
were fruitlessly spent. It was usually necessary to make several
calls before the mother was found at home. Eventually 375 infants
were re-inspected at between four and six months of age, and 219
at about 12 months.
Among the year old babies, 27 per cent, were found to be still
entirely breast fed, quite a number of mothers remarking that they
begin to wean a baby on its first birthday. Many mothers too,
keep a baby at the breast as long as they can possibly do so, it thus
being quite a common thing to find two year old children still partly
breast fed. To enumerate all the things that are given to a year old
child for food would be a lengthy proceeding; but the articles most
favoured are perhaps bread and milk, eggs, fish, oatmeal, cornflour,
nursery biscuits, rice, and the various patent foods, and in addition
very often, a little of what the rest of the family may be having.
It was found that between four or six months 43 per cent, of the
infants were entirely breast fed ; 27 per cent, partly breast and partly
hand fed ; and 30 per cent, entirely hand fed, the food given being
Cow's Milk in 47 cases
Nestle's „ ,, 28
Nursery biscuit „ 8
Bread and Milk „ 9
Ridge's food „ 7
Boiled bread ,, 7
Oatmeal „ 5
There is little subject for remark in the cases of measles and
Chicken pox notified from the Schools. Incorrect addresses are
often given, and cause much waste of time. Disinfection is offered,
and though frequently declined is occasionally accepted; and where
nuisances exist these are dealt with.
In many cases where there is no doctor in attendance, it is to
be feared that children do not receive the attention they need,
and frequently become sources of danger to others. For this is