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INFANTILE DIARRHCEA.
The " depot children " included 33 infants under 10 months (taken as the normal age for
weaning), seven of whom were reported to be breast fed, equal to 21*8 per cent. The " all
children " group included 104 infants under 10 months, 30 of whom were breast fed up to
the date of sickening, equal to 29.4 per cent.
A third factor was believed to be operative in producing the higher fatality among the
"depot children," namelv, greater severity of attack. No direct proof of that belief can be
adduced, but it seems reasonable to assume that such children were selected for the treatment
on that account. Moreover, the higher fatality from "other causes " among such children
suggests that they suffered from more severe forms of diarrhœa.
INFANTILE DIARRHCEA.
Leaflet of Special Precautions.
This advice to Mothers is supplementary to the general rules given in the Department's pamphlet "Infant
Rearing."
For Breast Fed Babies.
Be particular to keep your nipples clean, washing them before and after feeding the baby.
Your hands should be washed after changing the napkin.
Do not wean the baby during the hot weather. If your milk appears to be less than the baby wants,
drink a glass of milk three or four times a day, about half-an-hour before feeding the baby.
For Bottle Fed Babies.
Be very careful to use perfectly sweet milk. Boil the milk as soon as bought and keep it in the coolest
place, with a piece of clean linen or muslin over the jug. The milk must not be kept near a dustbin, water
closet, sink or drain. During the hot weather the feeding bottle must have very special care and attention.
The bottle must be cleaned as soon as the child has finished the meal, and must be kept in clean cold water
after cleaning.
General Rules.
Give no fruit to the baby.
If the baby has diarrhœa, stop the milk, call a doctor in, and inform the Medical Officer of Health, at the
Town Hall. If any other member of the family has diarrhoea, do not neglect the attack, as the baby may
"catch " the diarrhœa.
Keep the closets, sinks and gullies well scoured, and use plenty of water.
Leave no food uncovered. Get rid of all slops as soon as possible.
Keep the garden, yard and area clean. Allow no refuse of any kind to lie about. If flies are seen, look
for the refuse where they have bred. Flies spread diarrhœa and disease.
Burn as much house refuse as you can. If the dust is not taken away on the proper day, report the delay
at once to the Medical Officer of Health, at the Town Hall.
SPECIAL PREPARATIONS.
I.—Sterilised Prepared Milk.
Milk 10 fluid ounces
Water 10 fluid ounces Dissolve the milk sugar in the water,add the milk and sterilise.
Milk sugar 6.5 drachms
II —Sterilised Prepared Citrated Milk.
Milk 10 fluid ounces
Water 10 fluid ounces I Dissolve the citrate of soda and milk sugar in the water, add
Milk sugar 6.5 drachms f the milk and sterilise.
Citrate of soda 10 grains
III.—Peptonised Milk.
Sterilised milk 14 fluid ounces
Water 6 fluid ounces Mix the milk and water, heat to 100°F., add the bicarbonate of
Bicarbonate of soda 20 grains soda and Liquor Pancreaticus. Digest at 1009F. for 20
Benger's Liq. Pancreaticus 2 drachms minutes. Then boil and sterilise.