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45
even all, of the fat, the most important constituent of cow's
milk considered as a substitute for the mother's breast. In
only one case (as alleged) was the child fed on a purely
farinaceous food; but farinaceous food of some kind was
used with the milk in many of the other cases. There is no
reason, so far as I can ascertain, for supposing that any of the
children were neglected or not treated kindly ; but it is too
often the case that the feeding bottle is allowed to become in
a condition to injuriously affect the milk, and pollution of the
bottle may in some instances have had a causative effect in
setting up diarrhœa. The factor of supreme importance,
however, is that nearly all of the victims were deprived of
their natural food, and so long as this state of things prevails—and
it prevails largely among the upper classes—so
long may we look for a continuance of fatal infantile diarrhoea
in the families of persons unable to substitute for the natural
nutriment, expensive artificial food which may suffice in the
families of those whose circumstances enable them to exercise
extreme care in the management and surroundings of their
offspring.
CHOLERA.
Not a little stir was caused at the beginning of the year by
the news that Asiatic Cholera had been brought into English
waters, at Plymouth, on board the hired transport Nubia, from
Ceylon. Happily the disease did not spread to any person,
soldier or ordinary passenger, after the ship's arrival, nor did
any case occur on shore. The apparently healthy troops were
landed, and after a few days' detention in barracks were
allowed to go to their friends. The ordinary passengers (of
whom none had been affected on board ship) were allowed to
depart, after their names and intended destinations had been
ascertained. The Medical Officers of Health to districts to
which passengers were going, were duly apprised of names and
addresses. Two of the passengers came to this parish: they
were well on arrival and so continued. The arrangements