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50
Medical Officers at the Welfare Centres, and other
cases were discovered by the Health Visitors in the
course of their visiting. Forty-three cases were investigated
and kept under observation, distributed
through the Borough as follows:—
Wards.
South—17; West—8; North—5; East—13
Health Visitors' Districts.
A—5; B—7; C—12; D—3; E—10; F—0; G—5; H—1.
Where the children were not already under medical
care, the mothers were advised as to simple precautions
to be taken, and a leaflet of advice was left at the
home. Each case was kept under observation until
it cleared up.
The majority of the children affected proved to be
artificially fed. There were 22 cases under nine
months of age, thirteen of whom were entirely
artificially fed, while five had supplementary feeds of
artificial food. More than half the children—23—used
a dummy. In fourteen cases there was no food cupboard
provided, and in a number of remaining families
it was evident from the reports that, although a food
cupboard of some sort existed, it was unventilated or
otherwise unsatisfactory. The dustbin was uncovered in
thirteen cases, and in two cases both uncovered and
overflowing; there were also several complaints as to
nuisances from the dust shoots in tenement buildings.
The most disquieting feature of all resulting from the
investigation of these cases was the revelation of the
overcrowded conditions under which these children
lived. In only six cases were the families above the
housing standard of two persons per room; in twelve
cases there were between two and three persons; in
twelve further cases between three and four persons;
and in ten cases more than four persons per room.