View report page

40
With two or three exceptions, the children were drawn from the
poorest class, residing chiefly in Peerless Street, Baldwin Street,
Galway Street, Radnor Street and Lever Street. Many of the
fathers were out of work or in hospital or in a Poor Law Infirmary,
the mothers being quite unable to contribute any regular weekly sum
for the food supplied. The standard of life in this district being low,
the home conditions in many cases were very unsatisfactory, but the
interest of the mothers in the progress of their babies was greatly
stimulated by the weekly weighing which took place in a room
kindly lent by the Leysian Mission.
It should be added that the progress made (average increase per
week 4.6 ozs.) indicates not only that the milk itself was nourishing,
but the increased care given to the babies, and in some cases the
more suitable clothing which some of the mothers were induced to
provide for them.
In addition to the 53 infants enumerated in the foregoing table,
we have particulars of 40 other children outside the boundary of the
Borough who were fed on Dried Milk by Dr. Harper in the
Summer of 1906. The average weekly increase of these children
was 4.15 ozs. This figure is not necessarily comparable with the
4.66 ozs. recorded as the average weekly increase in the children
in the above table, as no doubt the climatic conditions of 1906 were
less favourable to infant life.
4. A School for Mothers.—A special effort has been made by
the Lady Sanitary Inspectors to keep in touch with a number
of young mothers who have been encouraged to come to weekly
or fortnightly talks on the welfare of the baby, and instruction
has been given on the simple rules which may be observed for
keeping the baby in health. This work was separate and distinct
from the work of the Depot as a school of Infant Management.
These classes have been held at the Depot and at 165, Goswell
Road (Social Workers' Association], in conjunction with the Health
Visitor of that Association (Miss Irene Cox).