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on the breast alone (viz., 87.5 per cent.) Later, this breast
feeding was found to have been either replaced by artificial
feeding or supplemented by artificial feeding, due to the
mothers' milk diminishing or disappearing altogether, the
mother going out to work, etc., the change of feeding
taking place about the 2nd to 3rd month (average).
The nature of the artificial foods in use are interesting,
as follows:—
Artificial Foods. 1908. 1909. 1910. Total.
Patent foods 30 32 67 129
Condensed milk 33 33 114 180
Cows' milk 70 85 267 422
The patent foods are the usual ones, viz.:—10 Allen.
bury; 6 Benger; 3 Mellin; 5 Neaves; 9 Ridges; 4 Savory
& Moore; 38 Biscuits (Robb's, Brighton, Nursery and
Rusks); 1 Percy; 1 Glaxo; 1 Farola; 1 Milo; whilst 20
Barley (various preparations); 1 Cornflower; 15 Oatmeal
and 14 Boiled Bread (crusts, tops and bottoms, etc.) were
found also to be in use. The 180 Condensed Milks were as
follows:—Nestle's (174); Ideal (1); Tip.Top (1); Club (1);
Cleaver (1); and Goat (2). In 19 cases, the patent foods
were in use with condensed milk.
The mothers visited are pleased to receive advice as to
the proper feeding, clothing etc., of their infants, and revisits
paid have shewn that such advice has been acted
upon. The re.visiting of births systematically is important.
It is impossible to give satisfactory statistics of the educational
value of the visiting of houses, wherein births have
been notified, but, personally, I am satisfied of the value
of such—a result that would be increased by systematic revisiting
in addition to the visiting.
A list of all notified births is sent to the London County
Council weekly in pursuance of sub.section 5 of section 2
of the Act—the prescribed form of such list being in accordance
with the Local Government Board Order (dated 20th
December, 1907).