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19
The Table B appended shows the nature of the investigation
made when the house, where a birth has recently occurred, is
visited by one of the Lady Health Visitors.
With regard to these births of children in Finsbury, the following
inferences have been made :—
Method of Feeding. Up to the age of three months, nearly
90 per cent, of the infants are entirely or partially breast fed.
The importance of this in a district like Finsbury can hardly be
over-estimated. It confirms the statement that nearly all the
women in Finsbury when cease to breast feed their babies, do so
because they cannot continue, and not because they will not.
Underfeeding, homework, outwork, or over-work, the insecurity
or casual nature of the husband's employment, the care of the
other older children, and the thousand and one worries that persist
in a poor household, all these render the mother unable to secretc
milk good either in quality or quantity. The infant consequently
suffers or is improperly and insufficiently fed.
The percentage of children fed on cows' milk was 6-5, on artificial
foods or condensed milk, three per cent.
Apparent Increase of Breast Feeding.—It would appear
too, that although the percentage of breast children is so high,
yet it is still increasing and is a matter for congratulation.
Thus in 1907, 1908 and 1909 the percentage of breast fed
children were 80-6, 82, and 82-5 respectively.
This improvement is probably to be associated in some measure
with the instruction and advice given by the Lady Health
Visitors and the supervision exercised by them over the welfare
of the children.
A similar result has been noticcd in the neighbouring Borough
of St. Pancras.
b 2