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46
year are traceable to weather conditions, and to the presence or absence
of epidemics of one kind and another. The gradual fall,independent
of these, which undoubtedly is taking place, is probably due to a
number of factors. The annual number of births in the Borough
being, roughly, 3,000, am additional 3 deaths raises the infantile
mortality rate one point. That the depot and the food provided
did not save three lives and reduce the rate 1 per 1,000 last year
cannot be argued. As a matter of fact, from my own experience and
the records kept at the depôt, I am able to instance cases of lives
actually preserved. A number of babies were undoubtedly carried
through the first year by the depot, and a larger number still made
progress, which otherwise could not have been made.
Being of this opinion, I can subscribe to Dr. Newman's last conclusion
viz—
4. "That, apart from the actual saving of infant life, the children
on the depôt have, with few exceptions, steadily improved in health
and physique, some of them in a remarkable degree": and that "the
depot has exerted also a positive effect in helping to lay the foundations
of a good constitution in most of the children who have used
the milk."
FINANCES OF THE DEPÔT—The balance sheet prepared by the
Borough accountant for the twelve months to 31st December is set
out in page 47. For convenience of reference the figures for the
three years since the establishment of the depôt are given.