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98
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
In seven cases the mothers stated that difficult teething had
made the child more susceptible to the attack of Diarrhoea.
In 44 cases the mothers reported a great many flies had
been noticed at the time of the child's illness and death, and in
three cases there were stables at the rear of the house.
Two complaints were made of rabbits or fowls being kept next
door.
25 deaths from Diarrhoea occurred among children over one
year of age. We had previously visited 13 of these children.
15 deaths occurred in the Union Infirmary and one in a hospital.
Three of these children were illegitimate, and one was a nurse child.
One infant was of premature birth, four were delicate from
birth, two of these were twin children.
We found nine children had been fed on cows' milk and farinaceous
foods up to their death, eight on Nestle's milk and farinaceous
foods, and two each on cows' milk, Nestle's milk and
farinaceous foods only.
One infant aged 13 months had had nothing but the mother's
milk from birth—it was a premature child and very delicate and
probably only lived so long by reason of the great care the mother
gave it.
Of the causes contributory to the infants' deaths, we found
one father was out of work and one had grossly neglected his
family.
One father was certified as suffering from Tuberculosis and
two mothers were very Anaemic.
Three children had Tubercular bowels, eight had suffered
previously with Bronchial trouble, and three had severe teething
complaints.