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82
diarrhoea, and they all died. Now the London County
Council supervise women who take in children to nurse;
though it is to the woman's own interest in such cases
to take good care of the child. But these poor mites
are not wanted, and though the mothers themselves
might be disposed to love and care for their children,
they are generally both young and ignorant, and
moreover have to work to earn their living. So the
babies are left with relatives who sometimes neglect
and even actively illtreat them. We occasionally refer
cases to the N.S.P.C.C., and sometimes we can do more
unaided; but undoubtedly many lives are thus
sacrificed without any authority being a bit the wiser.
And it is a matter which requires immediate attention.
The deaths of children under one year old from
diarrhoea number 180 during the year. It was not
possible to investigate the circumstances attending all
of them, as the press of work during the hot weather
made it appear more desirable and useful to devote
extra attention to those who were living and might be
saved rather than to spend much valuable time in
making enquiries after death.
In some cases it was found that the whole family
had been attacked by this disease, and doubtless the
baby was thus infected. In three instances the mother
bad been made ill by eating fish; in three, weaning was
in progress; in one case only did the mother of an
infant admit giving it the same food as the rest of the
family were having. The people here were very poor,
and buying sufficient milk for the baby was beyond
their means.