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41
It is believed that attacks are commoner amongst children fed
from the bottle with the long tube—the type which is nearly
always foul and cannot be properly cleaned. The part played
by flies in contaminating the infant's food has only in recent
years been recognised.
It is the work of the Health Visitors to urge upon the mothers
the importance of breast-feeding from clean breasts and clean
teats.
If for any reason the baby cannot be suckled, an improved
tubeless bottle and teat are supplied by the Public Health Department
at the cost price of one penny each to those mothers who
cannot afford to buy them elsewhere.
Leaflets on the prevention of diarrhœa are distributed in the
district during the summer and autumn months.
Every death is investigated and the tenement inspected.
Notices are served for the amendment of the defects discovered.
Diarrhœa not only attacks infants, but may also attack older
children and adults. In 1910 there were 27 Finsbury residents
over one year who died of this disease This number included
6 who were over 65 years.
Twenty-four of the children belonged to Clerkenwell, 16 to
St. Luke's. Four of the infants were illegitimate.
Premature Birth.—There were 83 deaths due to this
cause—43 in Clerkenwell, 39 in St. Luke's, and 1 in St.
Sepulchre. Eighteen of the infants were twins, 4 were quadruplets
born in Lever Street.
Three children were illegitimate.
Eighteen of the deaths occurred in hospitals and infirmaries,
the rest at home. Of the rest most of the deaths occurred on
Wednesday and Thursday, and in the poorest districts, least on
Sunday.
A quarter of the whole number were in the households of
labourers and carmen.