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53
INFANTILE DIARRHŒA.
During the year 21 cases of Infantile Diarrhoea
were investigated by the Health Visitors at the homes
of children following notice of these cases given by the
medical officers at the Welfare Centre. The enquiries
gave the following results:—
Wards.
South—5; West—1; North—5; East—10.
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. One case was fatal.
Only three of the children affected were breast-fed;
twelve of the children were over 9 months of age. The
figure with regard to the use of the dummy is more
satisfactory than last year's, five children being found
with this dangerous so-called "comforter." Food cupboards
of some kind were found in 20 cases. In all but
five cases the dust-bin was found covered. The most
disquieting feature resulting from the investigation of
these cases was the revelation of the overcrowded conditions
under which these children lived. In only nine
cases were the families above the low housing standard
of two persons per room; in four cases there were two
persons; in four further cases three persons; in three
cases four persons; and in one case the equivalent of 4.5
persons per room. Coupled with the actual overcrowding
of the persons per room should also be considered
the congestion of the persons on the site. I find that
in 18 cases in which the information is given, the floors
on which the families lived were as follow:—Basement
1; Ground 4; First 6; Second 4; Third 2; Fourth 1.
The distance of the family from the ground floor complicates
both the prompt removal of refuse and the
obtaining of outdoor exercise. Tenement building life