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47
possible that the almost universal custom of giving the infant
water in a bottle is unwise and that these mothers, seeing
the ease with which the bottle is sucked, no longer make the
effort to establish the more exacting technique of breast
feeding. Outside influences, mother-in-law or friend, the
distracting demands of a toddler, previous inability to breast
feed, are psychological factors that prevent success.
In 23 per cent. of cases the infants were weaned at six
months. In many cases the infants had already several
teeth at six months and weaning was normally indicated.
In other cases the mothers are young women who seem to
be incapable of learning the technique of breast feeding.
Errors of posture, holding the child so that adequate feed
is impossible with consequent discouragement of the infant
were noticed in some cases. In others it was known that
complementary feeds were given in excess of those advised
so that the infant had no longer the urge to effort.
Irregular feeding in which the intervals between feeding
are either long or varied in length, or short and frequent,
whenever baby cries, is also a factor responsible for these
figures.
However, our percentage of success for this year encourages
us to look forward to next year's work.
RECORDS :—
New Cases
265
Brought forward from 1934
15
Subsequent Attendances
719
Total Attendances
999
Doctor's Consultations
190
Number of Sessions
51
Average attendance per session
19.5
Results on discharge from the clinic :—
Breast fed
134
,, „ with Complementary feed
85
Weaned
3
Removed from Borough
11
Carried forward to 1936
47
Total
280