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54
The deductions which may reasonably be made from the foregoing
tables have been given at full length in previous annual
reports.
Deaths from Diarrhoea and Enteritis.—There were 115
deaths due to these causes, in children under one year, 24 deaths
in children between 1 and 2 years, and 13 deaths at other ages.
Confining our attention to the children under one year, 7 of the
children died under one month, 19 between 1 and 3 months,
42 between 3 and 6 months, 21 between 6 and 9 months, and
26 between 9 and 12 months of age.
The largest number died in Finsbury between the ages of 3
and 6 months.
Eighty-six per cent, of the children died during the very hot
weather in July, August and September—the number of deaths
during these months were 19, 47 and 33 respectively.
Fifty-four or nearly half the infants died in hospitals or poor
law institutions.
Ten of the children were illegitimate.
The methods followed in dealing with the epidemic arc outlined
below.
The Notification of Births Act has been adopted in Finsbury,
and all the births in the poorer parts of the Borough are visited
by the Lady Health Visitors. Special attention is given to those
births in streets where the infant mortality is excessive.
Leaflets on infant feeding and on the prevention and treatment
of summer diarrhoea are distributed and explained by the public
health staff, and suitable practical advice given to the mothers.
Sanitary feeding bottles, appropriate teats, and milk-jug cloth
covers are given gratis or sold at cost price.
During the hot summer months a special watch is kept over
the disposal of household refuse, and notices for the abatement
of nuisances served at once.