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46
infantilis mortality.
Many interesting facts have been reported by the Inspectors* with reference to the
deaths of infants from diarrhoea, of which a few only can be recorded here. Inquiries were
made by them touching 147 deaths at ages under 2 years; 124 of the deceased children
being under twelve months' old, 20 of whom were first-borns.
The first point to record is the fact that no fewer than 62 out of the 147 infants are
reported to have had "bad medical histories," many being more or less premature. Whether
it is desirable to take measures to preserve such offspring is a debatable question. On the
other hand it has to be remembered that there are notable histories of puny infants
developing into robust and very valuable citizens.
Up to the age of ten months, the breast is the natural source of food supply. Of 108
infants dying at ages under'ten months, 8 were suckled, 53 were fed exclusively on artificial
foods, and the remainder had a mixed diet. Stated as proportions:—
7.4 per cent. of these infants had natural food, and
92.6 „ „ „ artificial feeding.
After the tenth month of life the child requires other foods, but there is evidence that
a breast-fed child stands a better chance during the rest of the period of infancy than does
a child fed artificially from its earliest days. Thus of the 39 children who died between the
ages of 10 months and 2 years:—
6 (15.4 per cent.) had been suckled for at least 6 months.
20 (51.3 „ ) „ artificially fed from birth, and
13 (33.3 „ ) had had mixed feeding ,, „
Artificial feeding implies many forms of food, chiefly cow's milk. Many children are fed
on condensed milk, and it is satisfactorv to note that the Inspectors state that they did not find
any family using separated condensed milk. The " starvation " brands appear to be out of
use in the Borough. On the other hand starchv foods are too commonly use. Such foods
cannot be digested until after the sixth month of life. The long tube bottle is still used
largely, but probably not to the extent noticed in other vears. The screw-top boat bottles
are almost as objectionable as the long tube pattern, as the screw thread is difficult to keep
clean, and is frequentlv found sour. Attention has been called in previous reports to the
want of larder accommodation. Of 135 premises visited during the year, only 13 had proper
accommodation. In other cases the food is left about the rooms—exposed to dirt and flies—
or kept in a cupboard where the most miscellaneous assortment of household effects may be
found. In one case dirty clothes were found in the cupboard where the infant's milk was
stored.

The infectious nature of "summer diarrhœa" is not recognised as it should be. The
infective agent is to be found in the stools, and hence great care is required in disposing of
soiled napkins. In the homes visited last year 26 cases were discovered in addition to those
recorded in the death returns.
It has been felt from the commencement of these inquiries that the Inpector's visits are
made too late to secure any immediate results. Information of the births has not been
obtainable in the past, but during last autumn the Registrar-General sanctioned the issue
* Miss Nicolas and Miss O'Kell.