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110
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
those having cows' or condensed milk, but there is a slight
increase in the use of farinaceous and other foods. This'
applies to the method of feeding at the first visit.
"With regard to the feeding at the second visit, there is
a decrease in the proportion of those wholly breast fed, 62 as
against 65 per cent., and a slight increase in the proportion
of those having cows' milk only. On the other hand there is
a decrease in the proportion of those having farinaceous and
other foods, '69, as against i'i6 last year. The food given in
addition to the breast is chiefly biscuit; very little bread-sop
is now given, 'nursery biscuits' having taken its place.
"The majority of the bottles used are of the boat shape,
776 of these being given (Clapham, North, 43; Clapham,
South, 54; Putney 29, Streatham 80, Balham 112, Tooting
186, Southfield 85, Fairfield 70, Springfield 120), as against
132 tube bottles (Clapham, North, nine; Clapham, South, 14;
Putney four, Streatham 15, Balham 33, Tooting 35, Southfield
five, Fairfield five, Springfield 12). Both boat and tube
bottles were in use in 20 cases (Clapham, South, three;
Putney one, Streatham three, Balham seven, Tooting three,
Fairfield one, Springfield two), and spoons in 134 (Clapham,
North, three; Clapham, South, 15; Putney one, Streatham 17,
Balham 19, Tooting 32, Southfield 18, Fairfield 11, Springfield
18). In 35 instances (Clapham, North, two; Clapham,
South, five; Putney one, Streatham eight, Balham seven,
Tooting five, Southfield two, Fairfield one, Springfield four),
where tube bottles were being used at our first visit we found
boat bottles substituted at the second visit.
"We have this year in our talks with the mothers laid
special stress on the dangers arising from the use of comforters
or dummies, as we found the majority of babies were
having them. In many instances the mother owned that the
child refused to take it at first, but by dint of constantly
putting it into the month the baby got used to it. In several
cases the dummy was dipped into condensed milk before
being given.