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35
INFANT MORTALITY.
The Vestry had under its consideration the high rate of mortality
among children in the parish and the various means by which an
amelioration of this serious condition could be effected. The
Medical Officer of Health was directed to report upon the matter,
and on his doing so, the following circular was ordered to be printed
and circulated throughout the parish.
Nestry-St-Mary-Mewington.
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
GENERAL DIRECTIONS—How to Feed and bring up Infants
(When a medical man is called in his advice alone must be followed).
CLOTHING, AIR AND CLEANLINESS.
1. Infants must be kept warm. The clothing should be flannel
or woollen, fitting loosely to the body. They should wear highnecked
frocks with long sleeves, and when old enough stockings
coming well up above the knees. Infants, well wrapped up, should
be taken out into the open air whenever the weather is fine. They
should be washed all over, at least once a day, with soap and warm
water. The air of the room, especially the one in which the Infant
sleeps, should be kept as pure and sweet as possible by opening the
window several times during the day, and by leaving the window
slightly open at night. Air breathed over and over again is very
injurious to young and tender children. No one but the father and
mother should ever be allowed to sleep in the room with the Infant
and, if possible, the child should sleep in a cot by itself. Do not
make the bedroom the receptacle for lumber that should find a place
elsewhere, but keep the room as free of furniture and other articles
as possible. Scrupulous cleanliness in all matters of child management
is absolutely necessary if good health is to be maintained.
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