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From the above table it will be seen that since the adoption of the notification
of Births Act in March, 1908, the infantile mortality of the Borough has been less
than that for London.
Only one of the 70 infants that died under one year of age was known to
be an illegitimate child. A newly-born infant found in Bloomsbury Square was
probably illegitimate.
Of the 70 deaths of infants during the year the Lady Sanitary Inspector
was able to obtain further details respecting 66. Of the remaining 4 cases, 2 had
removed, one was above class visited, and in the remaining one the mother could
not be found at home.
Of the 66 deaths respecting which further details were obtained, 12,
principally cases of premature birth, died before taking food; only 25 were breast
fed, and 29 artificially fed. In 7 of these the mothers worked in factory or *
workshop, 7 were engaged in charing or other work outside the home, and 1
was in domestic service. There were only 7 deaths from diarrhceal diseases.
Only 3 of these took place in the third or summer quarter, 4 occurring in the
last two months of the year. Of the 70 deaths 30 were from prenatal causes and
39 from postnatal causes, and 1 doubtful.
The principal causes of death of these 70 children under one year of age
are given in Table V. of the Appendix.
PREVENTION OF INFANTILE MORTALITY.
(1) Care and Feeding of Infants.
In previous Annual Reports I have given details respecting visits and
inquiries made by the Lady Sanitary Inspector, with a view to improving the
health of infants and diminishing the infantile mortality in the Borough. If
thought desirable, instructions are given respecting the care and feeding of the
child and a leaflet left. Babies that are not thriving are periodically weighed.
Notices are also served for any sanitary defects found.
During the year 620 first visits were made. In 38 cases the mothers could
not be traced. In the remaining 582 cases, 5 children did not live long enough to
take any food, 16 were partly and 44 entirely artificially fed, and 517 were breast
fed at the time of the first visit, about a fortnight after birth. A large
number of revisits were made, particularly in the cases of children who were
not breast fed, and especially those who were feeding on modified milk.