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Report of the Medical Officer of Health. 73
20 deaths occurred at two to three months, and 22 at three to four
months. Only one died at 10 to 11 months, and one at 11 to 12
months.
39 infants died from Diarrhoea and Enteritis, 18 from diseases
of the Respiratory organs, 14 from Marasmus, four from Measles,
six from prematurity, three from Intestinal toxaemia, two from
Tuberculous Meningitis, and one from Cerebro-spinal Meningitis.
"Many infants died from prematurity previous to our first
visit. 113 of those visited were born prematurely, and 46 children
were delicate from birth. 27 twin births were visited.
"The pamphlet containing advice on the feeding of infants is
in every case handed to the mother on our first visit. Many of the
mothers remember the advice given in the case of a previous infant
visited. Where infants were reared by hand we found 739 mothers
used the boat-shaped bottle and only 22 confessed to using the long
tube bottle.
"With regard to the practice of giving the 'dummy' or
'comforter,' we found on our first visits that 1,319 of the mothers
had not begun to use the dummy, but 1,339 were using it. On our
second visits 175 had discontinued its use, but 171 mothers had
begun its use since our first visit.
"With regard to the employment of midwives we found that
1,306 of the 3,096 mothers we visited had employed their services,
while eight had been attended by unregistered midwives. In
nearly every case these were neighbours or relatives called in in an
emergency.
"The sanitary defects found in the houses during our visits
to the mothers have been remedied, or if requiring structural work
referred to you. 66 intimation notices were served and three
statutory notices were required."