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Illustrative cases are appended:—
1. A Normal Case.—The child weighed 8 lbs. at birth, and
at 2 months, when it came to the weighing centre, 12 lbs. 10 oz.
It attended regularly and increased its weight continuously, so
that at 10 months it weighed 22 lb. 2 oz. and had 12 teeth.
The average gain of weight was about 5 oz. weekly.
2. Ignorance of Parents.—Child one month old and overfed
The mother had plenty of milk, but the father insisted on giving
the infant rolled oats twice daily, causing diarrhœa. It was
brought to the weighing centre and the oats were stopped, so
that the child gained 14 oz. in weight in the following week.
3. Unsuitable Food.—A baby two months old gained only
4 oz. in 5 weeks. The child was artificially fed. The mother
was advised as to her own diet, and induced to breast feed the
child. It gained 8 oz. in the next week.
4. Unsuitable Food and Unsuitable Clothing.—A wasting
baby, 2 weeks old, weighing 5 lb. 15 oz., clad in thin and scanty
flannelette dress, living in a very stuffy small room. Mother
unable to suckle. The feeding bottle was filthy. The child was
having condensed milk. It was given cows' milk and water, and
“Finsbury” cream. The feeding bottle was cleansed. Suitable
clothing was provided. The baby was sent into the fresh air
daily, and gained 32 oz. in the next 4 weeks.
5. Breast Milk Deficient in Fat.—A baby weighing 7 lb.
8 oz. at birth weighed 8 lb. 10 oz. at 10 weeks. The mother's
milk was plentiful, but “thin.” “Finsbury” cream was given
to the child in addition to the breast feeds, with the result that
it gained 11 oz. in the first week. It was kept on this treatment
and subsequently gained 7 oz. per week up to 7 months, when
it weighed 17 lb.
6. Cows' Milk-Unsuitable.-A baby weighing 7 lb. 8 oz.
at birth weighed 8 lb. 6 oz. at 3 months, when it first attended
the weighing centre. The mother was unable to breast-feed.
The child was taking cows' milk and not gaining weight. The