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17
who have persistently demanded reforms for many years in the
interests of health and decency. Already there are signs of a sanitary
awakening in this particular, and the trade is showing a disposition to
avail itself of practical suggestions for improvement.
There are then two directions in which, at the present time, we can
move most effectively in order to reduce the infantile mortality. One
of these is by requiring all the older school girls to be educated in the
elements of healthy infant-rearing and in the means for securing healthy
conditions generally about the house, including cooking; and the other
by educating the present mothers, through the agency of women
sanitary inspectors or women Health Visitors who are able to influence
the mothers, in the direction of the proper feeding and care of their
children. In other words we must endeavour to cope against the
ignorance and indolence which are responsible for so much wastage
of child life.
It would be the duty of such a woman Health Visitor to perform
the following services:—She would be required to visit from house to
house in such streets or localities as I should indicate from time to
time. She would undertake a certain amount of missionary work
among the occupants of these houses by directing attention to the
evils of bad odours, dirt, want of fresh air, improper storage of food, etc.
She would also give information to mothers on the feeding and clothing
of children, and she would note the general sanitary state of the house.
I should supply her with information of the births registered by those
living in the poorer districts and who would, therefore, be judged as
likely to benefit by her advice.
For the purposes of preventive measures, it is necessary to pay duo
regard to the social circumstances which act and re-act upon the
physical well-being of the population. Chief amongst these is, of course
poverty, and since so much of poverty is caused by alcoholism, the
forces of alcoholism and poverty cannot be profitably discussed apart.
Could the wastage in food and drink be prevented amongst the poor,
their poverty would be far less. The need for education in the matter
B