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101
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
"There is a decrease in the number of those being fed on cows'
milk only, the percentage being 4.6 as against 5.4 in 1911, and 6.7
in 1910.
"Those fed on condensed milk show a percentage of 3.3 as
against 27 in 1911, and 3.4 in 1910.
"With regard to the manner of feeding at our second visit,
the proportion of those wholly breast-fed was 659, which is the
highest percentage recorded. This compares with 63 6 in 1911
and 62.1 in 1910.
"There is also a slight decrease in the use of farinaceous foods,
while the proportion of those fed on cows' milk works out at 9.4
per cent, as against 11.08 in 1911, and I2.4 in 1910; and of condensed
milk 4.05 per cent, as against 4.4 in 1911, and 4.2 in 1910.
"The pamphlet containing advice on the feeding of infants
has been much appreciated by the mothers. In several instances
the midwives in our district have asked for a supply of copies in
order to give them to expectant mothers, or immediately after
the confinement before we should have visited in the usual course.
We have often found the pamphlet produced on visiting the second
or third baby. Many mothers have told us they have found the
instructions there given helpful to them.
"In the case of handfeeding of infants we found 587 mothers
were using boat shaped bottles, and 74 long tube bottles.
"Both boat and tube bottles were used in 23 instances, the
tube usually being used at night, and in 42 cases the infant was
fed by a spoon.
"On our second visit 15 of the mothers had been wise enough
to discard the tube bottle.
" The use of 'dummies' or 'comforters' is still very common,
although many mothers have discarded the rubber teat and use
one made of some celluloid composition which they consider
much more hygienic.