London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Deptford 1911

Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford

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41
(2) If the infant is bottle-fed then those in charge of
the infant should acquaint themselves regarding the feeding
and nursing of infants. Parents can have printed leaflets
giving directions on infant feeding and nursing, from the
Public Health Department, and if they communicate with
the lady health visitors they will gladly call and explain
the instructions in these leaflets. Medical advice must
however be obtained from the medical attendant of the
family.
(3) Every child, even the most delicate, should be
suitably clad and taken out a good deal every fine day.
Plenty of fresh air, light and sunshine is an excellent
preventive against rickets.
Fireguards.
Fireguards are articles of furniture which I have noticed
to be singularly lacking in Deptford. It does not seem to be
generally known that in view of the fact that under the Children
Act of 1908, it is now incumbent upon all parents and householders,
having the charge of young children, to possess fireguards
to protect kitchen or room fires, so that there will be
no reasonable risk of children being seriously injured by burning.
There are certain points in regard to the construction of fireguards
which are of primary importance
(1) The fireguard should enclose the fire completely.
(2) It should be capable of being attached to the fireplace,
so that a young child cannot pull it over.
(3) If the front of it consists of vertical bars, so open
that children can easily push in paper, etc., the inside
of those bars should be filled in with close wire-mesh,