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106 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Infant Visiting.
The total number of visits and re-visits was 8,829, of which
5,211 were first visits, compared with 3,506 in the previous
year. The re-visits numbered 3,618 as against 4,178. The decrease
in re-visits is due to the fact that so many more mothers
attended the Infant Welfare Centres, and also the free distribution
of milk under the Milk (Mothers and Children) Order entailed
a great amount of work, not only in visiting, but particularly
in clerical work. 3,087 visits were paid in respect of milk
as against 1,797 last year.
At the first visit 4,141 were entirely breast-fed, 427 were
breast-fed supplemented by artificial feeding, and the remainder
were entirely bottle fed. In two cases rabbits brains were
being given to infants under the age of a month.
On re-visiting 1,712 were found to be entirely breast-fed,
659 were breast-fed supplemented by artificial feeding, and the
remainder were otherwise fed.
134 of the infants visited died during the year (33 in Clapham,
11 in Putney, 19 in Balham, 12 in Streatham, 23 in Tooting,
24 in Wandsworth I., and 12 in Wandsworth II). As
shown by the Table, the highest mortality occurred during the
first four months of life, four died under one month, and 56 died
before reaching the age of five months.
157 of the infants visited were prematurely born, and 157
were delicate from birth, 80 twin births were visited, of whom
12 died, and two mothers had triplets, and of these in one case
all the children are alive and well, and in the other, in which the
infants were premature, two died shortly after birth, and one
lived seven months and died of convulsions.
With regard to the employment of midwives, 2,191 mothers
had employed their services, 463 infants were born in hospital
and other institutions, and one unregistered woman was
employed.
In 2,556 births doctors have been in attendance.