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45
If this number (9) were added to that given above (10) as of
children dying while actually on the depot, the total 19 would not
be excessive for artificially-fed babies. The fact that a large proportion
of the infant deaths investigated proved to be of children not
fed on human milk has already been noted.
CONCLUSIONS.
In commenting upon the depot figures for 1907, Dr. Newman drew
certain conclusions, and though my experience extends only to the
year I have been in the Council's service, I find myself in entire
accord with these. Briefly they were as follows:—
1. "That the death-rate among the depot-fed children was very
low." Despite the fact that the great bulk were in poor health, and
even actually ill, when put on the depot, and that they were all
artificially-fed, only 10 out of 205 died.
2. "That much of the substantial saving of life has been due to
careful infant management in addition to suitable milk." The careful
infant management obtained has been the result of the individual
attention and instruction given by Miss Jones (Mrs. Beare) who
continued in charge of the depot during the year. This instruction
undoubtedly had an effect in prolonging the life of many of the
children. The food was of the highest importance, but no matter
how carefully prepared, if given without discrimination and to a
child improperly looked after, food cannot be expected to produce
any very lasting or satisfactory effect.
3. "That during the years that the Borough has had the advantage
of an Infant Milk Depot, the total infant mortality has shown
a marked and substantial decline." That this is so is shown in the
charts at page 27, in which the curve based on each of the three
methods of calculating the rate is given.
The amount of decline due to the work of the depot, it is
impossible to estimate, just as it is impossible to estimate the
amount of reduction of the general death rate produced by the
work of a hospital. Variations of the infantile rate from year to