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11
Infant Mortality for the year 1913-14, it is pointed out that bread
soaked in water and oatmeal gruel, and other most unsuitable diets
are quite often adopted for infants: every medical practitioner
who has had charge of a Centre can give many and various
instances of this fact.
Dr. Gere states that "with regard to dried milks, if these
were not supplied at the Centres there is no guarantee that the
mothers will get the particular kind ordered, or that they will get
dried milk at all." Dr. Gere also points out that the use of dried
milk has been practically introduced through the Centres, and that
the reason for its present popularity is due to this fact.
I have been informed by a colleague that in his Borough the
sale of infant foods at cost and reduced prices was abolished, and
there is no doubt that there is a tendency in some directions for
this course to be adopted. It is, in my opinion, a very mistaken
action that in all probability will not benefit the retailers who are
behind the movement. Thus as regards the district where the
supply of infant foods through the Centres has been discontinued,
I am informed by a most important firm of manufacturers that
even less dried milks, etc., have been sold by the chemists and
other retailers since the adoption of this measure.
Probably the persons who would most benefit by discontinuing
the sales at the Centres in this Borough would be the vendors
of skimmed milk.
Medical practitioners have been appointed, the appointments
being temporary, i.e., not on the permanent staff, to conduct the
clinical work of the Consultation Centres, their duties having been
arranged as regards the Welfare Centres as follows:—
1. Attend the Centre during the periods when Clinics are held.
2. To examine all infants brought to the Centre, of parents living in
the Borough.
3. To advise the parents as to the feeding and care of their infants.