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55
In 1911, the Lady Sanitary Inspector paid rapid visits to the
areas where the stress was greatest to offer advice, to distribute
dispensary tickets, to secure the prompt amendment of nuisances,
and to impress upon parents in affected households the absolute
necessity of immediate treatment.
Re-visits were paid to see that this last course was taken.
In 1912 it is proposed to distribute bristle brushes for the more
efficient cleansing of the feeding bottles.
The general measures applicable to these cases of diarrhoea,
and also to the supervision of all infants, whether ill or not, are
detailed at sufficient length in the earlier part of this report.
The distribution of the deaths was fairly equable over the
whole Borough, and affected the better and the poorer districts
involving altogether families in 77 different streets.
The largest number of deaths were in the following localities : —
Lever Street and Guinness Buildings (9), Penton street (4),
Baldwin Street (3), Cumming Street (3), Parrs Place (3), Pentonville
Road (3), Risinghill Street (3), Albert Street (2),
Bartholomew Buildings (2), Dingley Road (2), Donegal Street
(2), Galway Street (2), Gee Street (2), Hatfield Street (2),
Holford Square (2), Macclesfield Street (2), Radnor Street (2),
Rahere Street (2), Roscoe Street (2), Skinner Street (2), Smith
Street (2), White Lion Street (2), Wilmington Place (2), and
Winchester Street 2 deaths. In the other affected streets the
deaths were one in each street.
A priori, one would have expected to have had more deaths in
Warren Street, Easton Street, Margaret Street, St. Helena
Street and other streets inhabited by the very poorest.
The explanation of their comparative immunity is to be found in
the constant and continuous supervision by the public health
staff of all the births in these streets.
This supervision means the adoption of preventive measures,
the securing of prompt medical treatment, and the early removal
to hospitals and infirmary of infants definitely ailing.