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14
Of the 132 deaths of infants during the year inquiries were made and details
obtained by the Lady Inspector respecting 107. In some cases, especially in cases
of illegitimate births, the mothers could not be found owing to change of address.
Of the 107, 8 died from premature birth and before food was given. Of the
remainder, 48 were naturally fed and 51 artificially fed. Of the 51 artificially
fed, 45 used boat bottles and only 6 tube bottles. The number of tube bottles
used is gradually diminishing. 9 of the mothers worked in factories or workshops;
9 others at charing or other work outside the home; and 4 were engaged in
"homework" (tailoring); and 1 mother died. The remaining 84 were engaged
only in their own household duties.
As it was a cold, showery summer, there were very few deaths from diarrhoeal
diseases in the summer months. During the year there were only 15 deaths of
infants from diarrhoeal diseases, and all but one of these were artificially fed.
CARE AND FEEDING OF INFANTS.
With a view of diminishing the preventible infantile mortality in the Borough
in 590 out of the 1,008 births of residents of the Borough, where the mothers
lived in lodging houses or tenements, visits have been made by the Lady Sanitary
Inspector and inquiries made, as to the number and condition of rooms occupied;
the number of other children that have been born, including the number that have
died ; the nature of food given to the infant and the method of feeding ; whether
the child sleeps in a cot or not; and the occupation of the mother. If thought
desirable, instructions are given respecting the care and feeding of the child, and
a leaflet left. Notices are also served for any sanitary defects that may be found.
Of the 590 visited during the year, 483 were naturally fed, and 107 partly or
entirely artificially fed at the time of the first visit. Thus at the time of the
first visit 18 per cent. were artificially fed.
Of the 107 that were artificially fed 23 were so fed from birth, 8 before the
end of the second week and 6 partly so fed before the end of the second weekIn
more than one-third of the cases artificial feeding was begun before the end
of the second week.
Of the artificially fed children only 5 were registered before the end of second
week, 16 before 4 weeks, and of the remaining 86, 50 were not registered until six
weeks or more after birth.
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS ACT, 1907.
The last paragraph shows the need for the above Act and in previous reports
I have advised the earlier registration of births. The Council adopted the above