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1. Condition of skin. General cleanliness, and cleanliness
of umbilicus, axillae, groins, nates and popliteal spaces.
Absence of intertrigo and of vermin bites.
2. Muscles. Tone, activity, vigour, firmness and size.
Firmness of the abdominal wall. Kick and muscular
restlessness when undressed.
3. Straightness of limbs.
4. Eyes. Absence of discharge and of conjunctivitis.
5. Mouth and tongue. Cleanliness and freedom from
thrush.
6. Clothing. Material, amount. Should be rational in
design and application. The binder, if any, should be
short and reasonably loose.
7. Inspection of milk bottle.
8. Inspection of weight chart and of weight progress of
baby.
9. Apparent contentment of the baby and its ability to smile.
The dummy or comforter was omitted from the list, because it
was found that nearly every child used one. It was intended to
give prizes not to the mothers of cherubs of the Rubens' type or
for " fat stock," but to allot them to the mothers of strong, lusty,
clean, muscular babies; to mothers with strong maternal instinct
who had been consistently careful and attentive to the instruction
given by the Lady Health Visitors.
Prizes were awarded for the best infants between one and four
months, between four and eight months, and between eight and
twelve months, to the mothers of successfully reared twins and
triplets, for well kept homes, and for regular attendance at the
weighing centres. It is the irony of Fate that a few of the
bonniest prize babies belonged to mothers who, from repute, were
amongst the hardest drinkers in the borough.