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123
MUNICIPAL MILK DEPOT.*
The statistics for 1914 are subjoined.
252 new infants and children were entered upon the Register
and fed, their ages being at the time of commencing the milk :-
Under 3 months 110 9—12 months 12
3—6 months 85 Over 12 months 8
6—9 months 37 -
252
Of the 110 infants under 3 months, 15 were aged 14 days or
under, viz. 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 7, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14 and 14 days
respectively.
These 252 infants and children may be classified, as to their
states of health at the time of being put upon the milk, as follows:—
Healthy, i.e., showing no sign of wasting or disease, though below
par constitutionally 147, weakly 33, wasting 30, diseased 42, total
252. The diseases from which the 42 infants and children were
actually suffering at the time of being put upon the milk were:
Diarrhoea 5, sickness 1, bronchitis 7, pneumonia 2, tabes mesenterica,
1, indigestion 4, convulsions 6, rickets 5, consumption 2, teething 1,
sickness and diarrhœa 1, measles 1, whooping cough 1, abscess 1,
hernia 3, and paralysis of legs 1.
The periods during which the 252 infants and children continued
to use the milk were:—
26 weeks and over 26 Under 4 weeks—
13—26 weeks 46 2—4 weeks 47
6—13 weeks52 Under 2 weeks 54
4—6 weeks 27 -
252
49.2 per cent, used the milk for periods extending from 6 to
26 weeks and over, whilst 50.8 per cent. used the milk for short
varying periods under 6 weeks. 21.4 per cent. used the milk for
short periods under 14 days. The reasons assigned for discontinuing
the milk after varying intervals were:—(1) leaving the neighbourhood;
(2) unable, or too far, to send; (3) by order of medical
attendant; (4) unable to pay; (5) taken off by Relieving Officer;
(6) unsuitable.
* The Staff consists of a Manageress (Miss Paterson), one permanent
Assistant (Miss Berkeley) and one temporary Assistant. Miss Paterson
succeeded Airs. Burke (resigned) on April 24th, 1913.